Tire Kingdom is a large American tire store chain located primarily in the southern part of the United States. In 2000, it became a subsidiary of
TBC Corporation
TBC Corporation is an American corporation and marketer of automotive replacement tires.
History
In 1956, a purchasing group of tire retailers formed Cordovan Associates. The Company changed its name to Tire & Battery Corporation in 1972. Eleven ...
.
Background
Tire Kingdom was founded by Chuck Curcio in
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
in 1972, starting with a location in a farmer's market in
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lag ...
.
[Harakas, Margo (4 April 1996)]
The People's Mall
''Sun Sentinel'' ("Chuck Curcio did start Tire Kingdom at this very spot, though, in a 10-foot-by-20-foot space.") Business grew rapidly and the organization started opening stores throughout Florida and by the late 1980s had expanded through most major markets in the State, with 34 locations by 1984,
[Gourevitch, Dave (20 June 1984)]
For Founder of Tire Kingdom, Success Means Aggressiveness
''Palm Beach Post'' and 67 locations by late 1988.
[(1 November 1988)]
Tire Czar Sells His Kingdom – Michelin Group Will Buy Chain
''Miami Herald'' Curcio became well known for his irreverent late night parties, usually featuring him in outlandish costumes such as Crocket from Miami Vice.
[ Resnick, Rosalind (4 October 2010)]
Me & My Brand: Lively Entrepreneurs Ring Up Sales
''The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'' In subsequent years the company expanded to Georgia, Louisiana, Vermont, Ohio, New Hampshire, the Carolinas, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Acquisition by Michelin Group
Curcio sold Tire Kingdom to the
Michelin
Michelin ( , ), in full ("General Company of the Michelin Enterprises P.L.S."), is a French multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes '' région'' of France. It is the second largest t ...
group in a deal that closed in early 1989.
[Williams, Elisa (4 January 1989)]
Sale of Tire Kingdom Completed
''Palm Beach Post'' In 1993, an investment group headed by Goldman Sachs took control, with Curcio returning as part of the team.
[(16 January 1993)]
Tire 'King' Buys Back His Kingdom
''Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...
''[Pounds, Marcia Heroux (6 June 2000)]
Tire Kingdom Bought Again
'' Sun Sentinel'' Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Curcio stepped down in 1996,
[Smith, Jim (22 August 2011)]
Catching Up With GM, Prison Bibles, Chuck Curcio & China's Michelin Love Fest
, ''Tire Review'' and TBC Corporation purchased the company in the middle of 2000 for a reported $45 million. TBC Corporation also owns the
Big O Tires
Big O Tires, LLC. is a tire and auto service shop headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Big O Tires is one of North America's largest retail tire franchisors, with more than 450 independently owned and operated locations extending through ...
, National Tire & Battery, and Merchant Tire chains, each of which have separate branding and generally separate territories.
On April 3, 2015, TBC Corporation announced that all Tire Kingdom locations outside of Florida would be rebranded under the
National Tire & Battery brand.
On May 22, 2023 TBC announced the sale of all remaining Tire Kingdom and NTB company owned locations to Mavis Discount Tire
References
External links
*{{Official website, 1=http://www.tirekingdom.com
TBC Corporation
American companies established in 1972
Retail companies established in 1972
Automotive part retailers of the United States
Automotive repair shops of the United States
2000 mergers and acquisitions
Companies based in Palm Beach County, Florida
1972 establishments in Florida