Three years after entering the Chattanooga market, Tire Discounters will open its seventh service center in Chattanooga on Black Friday when it opens its new outlet at Signal Mountain Road and Raider Lane across from Komatsu's manufacturing plant.
The new outlet will be managed by David Higgins, who grew up in Soddy Daisy and started his career at his family's automotive shop in Hixson before managing another Tire Discounters store.
"I love working for Tire Discounters because of their dedication to their employees," Higgins said. "Everyone treats each other like family, not just a number. It's like being back in my family's shop."
The privately held, Cincinnati-based tire retailer is one of the nation's fastest growing independent tire retailers with more than 100 stores in Oho, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.
Tire Discounters Owner Chip Wood said he plans to open at least eight tire and automotive stores in the Chattanooga area and at least another couple of store sites in the region, including Cleveland, Tennessee.
The typical Tire Discounters store has eight bays, staffed by 10 to 12 employees. The stores close at 7 p.m. on weeknights, at 4 p.m. on Saturday and are not open on Sunday.