Hennelly Tire overcomes time, bureaucracy to open new stores

March 31, 2006

Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc. opened two new outlets in Florida this week, including one that took 11 years to acquire.

The stores are located in Aventura, Fla., which is north of Miami, and Bonita Springs, Fla., which is near Naples on the state's west coast.

Hennelly Tire Chairman and CEO Dan Hennelly has been working on the Aventura store's acquisition for 11 years.

The owner of the shop, which was called Highland Automotive, finally agreed to sell 30 days ago.

The 11-bay outlet is in "a very, very exclusive" area, says Hennelly, and includes a Penske truck rental service. It also sells gas.

The Bonita Springs store was built by Hennelly Tire and is located in a new shopping center.

It took Hennelly two years to get permits for the store, which he blames on the municipality's inability to deal with the region's surging population.

Another Hennelly Tire store will open in Boynton Beach, Fla., on May 1. This will give the dealership, which does business as The Tire Choice & Total Car Care, 11 locations.

Hennelly told moderntiredealer.com he wants to open eight more stores by the end of the year.