AAA Allied Group will retain the Bob Sumerel Tire & Service name after its acquisition of the Erlanger, Ky.-based tire dealership's retail division goes through next month, says Tom Wiedemann, president of AAA Allied Group's Midwest Region.
Last week, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based AAA Allied Group announced it will acquire Bob Sumerel Tire Co.'s retail unit, which includes 30 stores, on Nov. 1. for an undisclosed sum.
The reason retaining the Bob Sumerel name "makes so much sense for us is because it has so much respect in the community," Wiedemann recently told www.moderntiredealer.com.
Bob Sumerel is the first independent tire dealership that the AAA has ever purchased, according to officials from the organization. The AAA owns 58 auto repair shops across the country, excluding Sumerel's 30 retail stores. (The transaction does not include Sumerel's commercial tire division, which will stay in the Sumerel family.)
When asked if AAA has any plans to alter Sumerel's retail format, Wiedemann said "there are great opportunities to cross sell AAA offerings, such as insurance, travel brochures, etc." at the stores.
"We've been the experts in roadside assistance for more than 100 years. We believe this is a logical connection from the roadside to the garage."
Bob Sumerel Tire Co. is the 21st largest independent tire store chain in the U.S., according to the Modern Tire Dealer 100.
