Long-time Salt Lake City, Utah, dealership Dick Morrison Tire Co., which does business as Grandma's Tire, has sold nine of its retail stores to six area Big O franchises.
Big O parent company TBC Corp. also has bought Morrison's 55,000-square-foot warehouse in Salt Lake City.
The 45-year-old facility stocks 15,000 to 20,000 units on average, according to Craig Morrison, Morrison Tire's president.
It serves 550 accounts throughout Utah, northern Nevada, and parts of Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona.
Financial terms of the transactions have not been disclosed.
Mark Buker, a Salt Lake City-based Big O franchisee, approached Morrison about selling out in January and "started the ball rolling" on the deal. Buker takes over three Morrison stores.
Another Salt Lake City Big O franchisee, Ken Gubler, takes over two outlets.
Claude Smith takes over the company's flagship store in Salt Lake City.
The rest will be split between Big O franchisees in West Jordan, Orem and West Valley, Utah.
Morrison is searching for someone to buy his Provo, Utah, store and is talking with two or three interested tire dealerships. He has not revealed their names.
Morrison Tire, which sells the Hercules, Kelly and Dunlop brands, also has a commercial tire shop attached to its warehouse.
Big O plans to keep the 70-year-old dealership's 70-plus employees, he says.
Morrison and his father, second generation dealer Bob Morrison, have signed a no-compete contract with Big O and will exit the business at the end of the month to pursue other interests.
