Tire Discounters Inc. is expanding in Dalton, Ga., with the purchase of two stores from the Lou Johnson family.
On Dec. 31, 2017, the Turbo Tire Inc. store in downtown Dalton and Johnson’s Tire Pros on Thornton Avenue closed their doors and reopened on Jan. 2, 2018, as Tire Discounters.
Two generations of the Lou Johnson family, including Linda and Bob Monfette of Turbo Tire and David Johnson of Johnson’s Tire Pros, have joined Tire Discounters and will be working with Ben Peters and Josh Gillespie, Tire Discounters general managers.
Tire Discounters was founded by Chip Wood in 1976 and has become the nation’s ninth-largest independent tire retailer. The company continues to grow at a rapid pace under the leadership of Jamie Ward, president.
“We only reached out to companies who would continue to look after our customers just like my father did,” says Linda Monfette. “Jamie Ward and the Wood family know how we feel about our customers and our employees – because they feel the same way.”
The Johnson family will maintain ownership of the properties, leasing to Tire Discounters. And, nearly all of Turbo Tire and Johnson Tire Pros’ employees have chosen to become employees of Tire Discounters, benefiting from the employee benefits like health care, 401(k) plans, and other benefits that all Tire Discounters employees enjoy.
“It’s a real honor that Linda, David and Cindy trust our family to carry on their customer-friendly tradition,” said Chip Wood, founder and owner of Tire Discounters. “My brother, sister, sons and daughter all work here, and we’re trying our best to make sure that our industry isn’t taken over by faceless corporations. Family-run stores are still the heart and soul of the tire business.”
Turbo Tire and Johnson’s Tire Pros were founded in 1990 by Lou Johnson. Lou’s children and extended family have carried on his tradition of providing excellent customer service.
Tire Discounters currently employs more than 1,100 people in more than 100 locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and now Alabama. For more information, visit www.tirediscounters.com.
