Pete’s Tire Barns Inc. has purchased the assets of Norwich Tire in Norwich, Conn., allowing Pete’s Tire Barns to expand sales and service in and around the North Franklin/Norwich region.
The Norwich location will work in tandem with the company’s North Franklin, Conn., facility. In early 2016, they will be combined into a new state-of-the-art facility under construction in North Franklin.
“One of the things that attracted us to Norwich Tire was their excellent reputation and commitment to high-quality service,” says Peter Gerry, president of Pete’s Tire Barns. “This acquisition improves our ability to provide a complete range of commercial, retail, agricultural and industrial tires and service that Norwich Tire has been providing their customers since 1955.”
Norwich Tire was started in 1955 by Stanley Chmielecki, servicing the customers of the greater eastern Connecticut region. In 1971, his nephew, Jerry Chmielecki, joined the staff. He purchased the company in 1988. He will join Pete’s Tire Barn as the general manager of service for the region.
Pete's Tire Barns was started by Peter A. Gerry, then only 18 years old, in 1968 at a small garage in Athol, Mass. Originally selling automobiles and performance tires, the company expanded its operation to include a full line of passenger tires, new and retreaded truck tires, farm/agricultural tires, off-the-road tires, and several other product lines.
Pete's Tire Barns has been able to help build its network strength through acquisitions and new store development. “This growth has allowed the company to provide customers with top-notch sales and service regardless of where they operate in New England,” says the company.
The company is No. 55 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list and 21st on MTD’s Top 25 U.S. Commercial Tire Dealers listing.
Pete's Tire Barns operates 19 full-service locations in New England, an online store, a state-of-the-art distribution center with five acres of tires, and two Bridgestone/Bandag retread facilities. The company employs approximately 250 people, and operates a fleet of over 135 service and delivery vehicles.
