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Parkrose Tire King retires, passes scepter to sons PATRICIA L. MACAODHA The MID-COUNTY MEMO
The elder Brown began to learn skills of the automotive trade from his father, Hank Brown, who ran a tire-recapping business. After working as a manager for Les Schwab and Woody Froom, Bob began selling tires out of his garage in June 1978. He switched to a storefront when he purchased the General Tire Store in Gateway, in the former San Rafael Shopping Center, currently the site of WinCo Foods. Bob Brown Tire Center has been a family-operated business for 36 years. Bob and his wife, Mary, with assistance of recently retired office manager Estelle Fuller, developed the stores reputation for quality products and customer service. Sons Kelly and Brian also have a long tenure as BBTC employees, as did daughter Debbie Codino and Joel Foster, assistant manager for 25 years. During their years in business, the Browns have operated three retail stores, a wholesale outlet and a tire retread plant, developing a customer base that brought ongoing success. They have employed hundreds of workers, providing valuable retail training. Many, Brown said, have gone on to be very successful, they say, in large part, because of the training we gave them. He adds, I had a great career doing exactly what I want to do: Be a tire guy.
Hes honest, direct and to the point and has never gone back on his word. Spada calls Brown ...a great guy; and a great man in the community. Kyle Ziegler, Carrie Bs Dance Shop owner and longtime Argay Terrace resident, tags Brown as dependable and always available. Hes always there with a big smile; always treats his customers like gold. She added, The whole family has the customer gene. Brown has also served a number of retail associations, from community to national levels. He was president of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association and four times president of the Parkrose Business Association. He also served as president of the National Tire Dealers Association from 1988-89 and served as a member of the Board of Directors. He is in the Northwest Tire Dealers Association Hall of Fame, and in 1990, the Mid-county Memo Community Awards named him Businessperson of the Year. The Tire Factory Group, says Brown, is about as close as we could get to someone operating like we have; theyre a good fit for the business and employees. Brown admits he will miss the business and says hes still winding down. I miss it when Im in the store and I dont miss it when Im away, dont miss all the pressure and tension and stress. Its all going to run like it did before. Brown thinks he might go down to California and go fishing. With Kelly in charge, the younger generation of Browns continues to offer products in which they have confidence, with eyes set on a level of service reflecting the legacy Bob Brown now leaves to future generations. Hes the best. I learned a lot from him, Kelly Brown said about his Dad. One thing he taught me is the company is judged by the poorest performance of any one employee, and to think about what you are doing and saying. He added, Its all about the customer, they pay our wages, so listen to them. Treat them with respect; never judge a book by its cover, so to speak, or by the vehicle they drive; have patience, and listen. |
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