NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — One sure sign that winter is coming has been for decades the spiraling line of vehicles leading to the doors of Mister Tire
No more. After more than 40 years, Larry Davis is cleaning his hands of the tire business.
Davis confirmed on Tuesday that Mister Tire will be closing its doors on June 4.
"I'm 59, I've been doing it for almost 40 years," he said between the whine of the impact wrenches, ringing phones and customers. "I'm not only the guy at the top, I'm the guy at the bottom. I don't have the stamina to keep going anymore, I don't have the heart to keep going."
The reason is a perfect storm of family health issues, lack of staffing and a desire to retire.
"I'm not happy about it but I've weighed the issues. This right now is what I need to do," Davis said. "I'm hopeful that there will be somebody coming taking our place."
At least three entities have expressed serious interest in buying the business, which includes the building Davis constructed in 1992. He started the local Mister Tire in 1978 in front of Coury's junk yard, and has been in the business since 1971.
There are currently eight employees and Davis said the interested parties want to retain his work force so they shouldn't be unemployed for too long.
"I have good expectations by the first part of August, if anything they'll be an announcement, but I'm hoping there will be somebody in place to fill the void," he said, adding that he'll make sure he posts on Facebook about any changes.
Mister Tire will be the second tire business to close in the past year. North Adams Tire & Service Center (Goodyear) on River Street was closed last year and demolished when the property was sold by owner Pittsfield Tire.
By Davis' account, any new owner is going to need the Mister Tire team. Davis said he's had trouble getting workers for the last few years and lost four since the beginning of this year. He's tried temp agencies and reaching out to McCann Technical School but can't keep the 12 to 13 people he needs.
It's a physically demanding job and one that also requires a great deal of skill, more than most people think, he said. "It's a very specialized position."
The average customer probably spends more time in line than he or she does once in the shop. Mister Tire is a speedy drive-in, drive-out operation for the most part.
Davis had tried to step back somewhat last year to let his children run the business but kept getting pulled back.
"Because of the shortage, because there's nobody to help, this is what I'm doing," he said, holding up hands blackened by tires and grease.
"My shoes can be filled but there's so many things that have to be watched and so many things that have to be done," he continued, saying his crew were hard working and dedicated. "But this is a child, this child needs constant supervision ... the group combined aren't prepared for it."
His brother, Bruce, is still operating the original Mister Tire on South Central Street in Plainfield, if customers are willing to drive that far. He's also contacted local garages to give them the heads up that they might be getting an influx of customers.
For the future, he's got "a pair of honey-do lists and doctors' appointments."
"I'm bittersweet about this. I don't feel good about leaving under the circumstances," Davis said. "But I'm prepared for the next chapter. I'll approach that the same way: full speed ahead."
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