Chapel Hill Tire, a Triangle fixture since 1953, is opening a new location in Cary. By acquiring Bull and Tire Service on Maynard Road, the company will be able to add Cary to its list of nine locations, which currently includes four shops in Chapel Hill; two in Raleigh; and one each in Carrboro, Apex, and Durham.
Bull Tire and Service will be the eighth automotive center which Chapel Hill Tire has acquired. According to Marc Pons, company President and co-owner, the shift will not negatively impact Bull and Tire’s current employees. “We are going to try and retain as much of the staff as possible,” he said. “We’ve got a great reputation for retaining staff in our previous acquisitions, and we intend to do the same here.”
Pons added that the company takes family values seriously. The son of former owner, Al Pons, Marc has worked for Chapel Hill Tire for 25 years. During that time, he has watched both the company and the area around it blossom. He credits the company’s success to its laser-sharp employee focus — a commitment to treating them with respect, integrity, and gratitude.
“We’re really proud of the culture we have here,” he said. “We believe that employees will only treat customers up to the level that they’re treated. So if we want to foster outstanding customer experiences, we need our employees to feel cared for. We go the extra mile for them, so that they’ll go the extra mile for our customers.”
That outlook, Pons said, is part of the company’s “Drive Happy Movement”—a mission to create a level of customer service that transcends a mere inspection, repair, or oil change. “We believe that we have something really special to offer our customers. It goes beyond just being good at car care. Our customer service rivals some of the best in retail. And we’re really excited to bring that to Cary.”
Originally specializing in tires, Chapel Hill Tire has expanded its offerings throughout the past three decades, and now offers a comprehensive suite of car care services. As recently as August 2022, the company has even added a car wash and detailing service, so clients waiting on another service can receive a car that’s clean to boot. Another new feature is a “Free Pick Up & Delivery” service, wherein customers who are too busy to drive can have their cars picked up, serviced, and returned by a company representative. The convenience which this affords has been incredibly popular with clients, which Pons says is all part of the plan.
“Everything we do here is done to make our customers’ lives a little easier,” he said. “The Free Pick Up & Delivery service is an extension of that, and so is our expansion to Cary. It’s the biggest suburb of Raleigh, and it’s quite close to our home base of Chapel Hill. We want to be able to serve people in all areas of the Triangle, and the Cary addition will help us do that.”
Chapel Hill Tire will celebrate its 70th Anniversary in 2023. In a recent interview on 97.9 The Hill WCHL, Marc Pons told Aaron Keck the original location was the store on Franklin Street. Before Chapel Hill Tire opened there in 1953, that building was a Studebaker dealership. “We’re so proud to still be on Franklin Street. We’re actually one of the oldest continuously run businesses on Franklin Street.” You can listen to Aaron Keck’s full interview with Marc Pons here.
image via ChapelHillTire.com
About Chapel Hill Tire
First opened in 1953, Chapel Hill Tire provides comprehensive car care services for all makes and models, including hybrid vehicles. Its tire inventory includes all major brands, and it offers the lowest prices on new tires through its Price Beat Guarantee. The company operates ten stores in the Triangle area, and offers Free Pick Up & Delivery at all locations. The company welcomes new customers via online appointment scheduling at chapelhilltire.com.
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