Plaza Tire Service

Year established:1963, celebrating 50 years in business all throughout 2013

Owners: Second generation owners and brothers, Mark and Scott Rhodes, sons of the late founder, Vernon "Pee Wee" Rhodes

Locations: Local stores include three Cape stores -- 2149 William St., 1638 N. Kingshighway and 433 Siemers Drive -- plus stores in Scott City and Jackson. A total of 51 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas.

What products or services do you offer? We are a full-service tire retailer that sells and services tires. Plus, we perform several essential automotive services such as brakes, shocks, struts, oil changes, wheel balancing, wheel alignments, transmission services, coolant and power steering flushes plus custom wheels.

Number of employees: More than 100 employees work in the Cape Girardeau County stores, corporate office and distribution center. About 370 employees work throughout the entire company.

Hours of operation:

Cape stores: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Scott City and Jackson stores: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Phone number: Corporate office 334-5036

Website address:

www.plazatireservice.com

Facebook address:

www.facebook.com/pages/Plaza-Tire-Service/113460155341732

What makes your business unique?

The corner of William St. where the current flagship store is located when it was Plaza Car Wash in 1969.

Mark Rhodes, president: We've been locally owned and operated in Cape for 50 years. We've never missed a day's work here in Cape, even through two floods, a fire, blizzard and relocating the store. That work ethic, an inventory of 100,000 tires and our low prices has kept us in business.

What future plans do you have for your business?

MR: We will celebrate our 50th anniversary throughout 2013. To highlight the year, we will replace our flagship store on William Street. The new flagship store will be on the opposite side of the block at 170 S. Kingshighway. The William Street store will remain open through April.

What awards or special recognition did you receive in 2012?

MR: We have been voted as Cape County's Best Place to Buy Tires every year since 2007, including 2012. Tire Business magazine listed us as the 22nd largest independently owned tire company in North America because we have 51 locations.

Does your business support any community organizations or events in a special way?

MR: We donate to schools and other charities in the communities that we operate in. We are also a major sponsor for the Cape Rotary Club's annual Soap Box Derby race. All Plaza Tire Service stores sell shamrocks for the MDA and have raised $58,749 for that organization since 2008.

What do you like about doing business in a small town?

MR: It's easy to get to know your employees and customers. In some cases, you get to know your customers so well, that you see second and third generations visiting for tires and services. The older generation has trusted us enough that they recommend it to their younger family members.

What may our readers find surprising about your business?

MR: My father opened Plaza Tire Service in 1963 as Plaza Car Wash, a hand-operated carwash, where our William Street store operates. His first tires were serviced along the sidewalk outside the carwash. We are replacing that store with a new one on South Kingshighway this spring.

The William St. store when it was first built to replace the Plaza Car Wash building in 1984. The store will be replaced by the new flagship store.

Are there any long-term employees you would like to recognize? Why?

MR: My Mother, Carole, always worked with my father to grow Plaza Tire Service. My five uncles worked here, including my Uncle Pete Rhodes, who was Dad's early business partner. We also have two 42-year employees, Andrew Klipfel and Chuck Schuessler. Sixty-five employees have been here for 10 years or more.