Belle Tire

Belle Tire is an American tire, wheel and automotive service retailer headquartered in Allen Park, Michigan. It was founded in 1922, after its first location was opened in Detroit, Michigan, by Sam Waze. It currently operates 133 locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.[1]

Belle Tire
TypePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedDetroit, Michigan, United States (1922)
FounderSam Waze
Headquarters
1000 Enterprise Dr., Allen Park, Michigan, United States
Number of locations
133 (June 2018)
Key people
Don Barnes III, President
Jack Lawless, CEO
Wayne Shotwell, COO
ProductsTires, wheels, automotive repair services, auto glass services
Number of employees
1,900
Websitewww.belletire.com

History

In the 1960s, Don Barnes Sr., a Kelly Tire salesman who had been a supplier to Belle Tire, partnered with Waze. The partnership proved to be successful, with the company opening several other locations in the Metro Detroit area. In the 1980s, the Barnes family bought Waze's remaining shares and continued expansion of the business through acquisitions of American Tire, Capital Tire, Delta Tire, and Great Lakes Tire. The company grew significantly in the 1990s via the acquisition of the Tireman and Metro 25 chains in the 1990s, and Sears' NTB locations in Michigan in the early 2000s.

Since the mid-2000s Belle Tire has continued its expansion throughout Michigan, building new stores in the Metro Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing areas.

In 2007, Belle Tire added glass repair to its list of auto services.

In 2013, the company launched an initiative to redesign its retail stores to make them more customer-friendly.

In 2015, the company expanded its retail footprint to Indiana with four locations: Mishawaka, Elkhart, and two in South Bend. This expansion marked an important moment in the company's more than 90-year history in the tire business. It was the company's first move into new territory since expanding from Michigan to northern Ohio more than 30 years ago.[2] In 2015, Don Barnes III was named President.[3]

References
  1. "Stocks". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  2. "Belle Tire proceeds with renovations - Retail - Modern Tire Dealer". www.moderntiredealer.com. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  3. Staff, Tire Business. "Belle names Don Barnes III president, retail - Tire Business". Tire Business. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
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