Photo / Courtesy of VIP Tires & Service
Tim Winkeler, president and CEO of VIP Tires & Service
Updated: December 6, 2022
On a roll: Auburn tire retailer expands with new Vermont store
Provided photo
Auburn-based VIP Tires & Service opened a new store in Bennington, Vt., in a former Hyundai car dealership.
VIP Tires & Service has expanded its regional footprint with its fifth location in Vermont amid a bullish business outlook for 2023.
The Auburn-based company, led by President and CEO Tim Winkeler, opened its 67th location last week at a former Hyundai car dealership in Bennington. The new store is located at 183 Phyllis Lane and employs eight people, including manager John Chapman. That brings the company's total to more than 600 employees.
Elsewhere in the Green Mountain State, VIP Tires has stores in Burlington, Shelburne, Williston and Rutland. Similar to other VIP stores, the new Bennington location sells tires and offers a range of automotive services including engine, diagnostics, maintenance, brakes, alignments and state inspections.
VIP moved into the 5,760-square-foot building in Bennington after revamping the interior, adding four bay doors to the front of the building and pouring a new concrete floor in the repair shop. Other updates included a new roof, parking lot, landscaping and restrooms.
Besides Maine and Vermont, the company has locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
"After hearing great things about the area and visiting ourselves, we decided that Bennington would be ideal for our next VIP Tires & Service location,” Winkeler said in a news release. "We are proud to be opening our 67th location in Bennington and look forward to serving the local community.”
A spokesperson for the company said four new locations are planned annually, and new markets will be in New England outside of Maine as VIP also works on expanding some locations in its home states.
Asked about his business outlook for the next year, Winkeler said, "We are very optimistic about 2023. The demand environment continues to be very strong for automotive tires and repair. We expect to grow again by double digits in 2023."
Winkeler told Mainebiz earlier this year that while recruiting employees is challenging for everyone, VIP Tires never laid off any employees during the pandemic.
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