The new tire store is planned here, across Santiam Highway from Les Schwab.
Discount Tire, described as the largest independent tire and wheel retailer in the world, plans to open an Albany store.
A Seattle land-use planning and engineering firm has applied with the Albany Planning Division for approval of a site plan and consolidation of three lots.
The lots are at the southwest corner of Santiam Highway and Shortridge Street, across Santiam from the Les Schwab Tire Center.
Halle Properties LLC, of Scottsdale, AZ, bought the three lots last month for $1,570,000, according to an online report at the Linn County Assessor’s Office.
Halle Properties was formed by Bruce Halle, the founder of Discount Tire, who died on Jan. 4, 2018, at the age of 87, according to a story in the Phoenix Business Journal. The story said he was the richest person in Arizona.
Mr. Halle opened his first Discount Tire store in Michigan in 1960. At the time of the press account in early 2018, the chain had 975 stores in 34 states and more than 20,000 employees.
The site plan for the Albany store shows one rectangular building of 8,192 square feet separated from the street corner by landscaping and a concrete sidewalk. There is to be one driveway each on Santiam and Shortridge. The plan shows 43 parking slots between the building and neighboring properties to the east and south.
Albany planner Travis North is handling the application. The city has notified property owners within 300 feet and invited public comments on the request. The deadline for comments is April 5. (hh)
The existing buildings on the site are empty and will be replaced by the new tire store.
That’s the old Ed Lemco Honda building.
Does anyone know if this store will impact the changes ODOT plans on both sides of Pacific in that area (Dale Street on the North and Center Street on the South)?
Glenda – I think you have your streets confused. This proposal is on Santiam Hwy, not Pacific Blvd. What changes does DOT propose? Maybe I missed something re this.
Just what Albany needs, another tire store. Like mattress stores, we’ve got enough already!
Any idea on the amount of living wage jobs this new business will bring to the community?
Personally, I prefer to support our locally owned tire shops
Does anyone know if Discount Tire employees are like the employees at Les Schwab. I refer to the Les Schwab employee penchant for running about the facility to make it seem as though the hurrying-scurrying is indicative of greater effort and output. One can easily imagine a rash of employee-running-about on either side of Santiam Highway. The unanswered question is: does the running-about amount to anything, or is is a charade? And will having two companies staffed by darting/dashing employees create a demand for other companies demanding the same from their employees? Imagine bustling employees at CORK’s Donuts darting about, or Dutch Brothers hirelings buzzing around the under-served under-caffeinated.
Love your reply. I can just imagine all the hustling employees on each side of the street! :)
I think Bi-Rite Plumbing used to be in the building in the photo (Hub City).
Just another corporate coming in. Nothing compares to the personal service and expert advice that Beggs Tires gives to everyone of their customers!! I’ll pay a fraction more for the trusting owner and employees at Beggs!!!
Yuck. This is all we need right now. Stick with Beggs.
Great news! Discount has always treated me very good. Les Schwab’s customer service has dwindled over the years and especially since it’s purchase by the Meredith Corporation.
Competition is always good for the consumer.
For those complaining about big corporations: promoting walkability, mixed zoning and density improve local businesses. https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2018/1/16/why-walkable-streets-are-more-economically-productive
Minimum parking requirements and massive lots only encourage consumers to drive to the big box store and increase our taxes.