West Seattle business: Les Schwab Tires opening today

You might have noticed the scene at Fauntleroy/Alaska/38th if you drove by on the way to work, or walked past to catch a bus: The pageantry of stocking a new Les Schwab Tires store is in full swing, or more like full roll. When we toured the site with area manager Rich Baalman last week, he told us that around 7 am on opening day, tire-laden semi’s would roll in from distribution headquarters in Prineville, Oregon, and the 40-plus store managers he supervises would get busy getting them inside the new store:

Once the tires are all out of the trucks and in the store, around mid-morning, they’ll open for business – this is the basement of the one-time Huling Brothers used-car-lot building, filling up fast:

On the counter, a different set of stacks that will eventually be tackled:

The company has about 400 stores, all in Western states, selling tires and wheels as well as offering related services (such as brakes/shocks/alignment).

21 Replies to "West Seattle business: Les Schwab Tires opening today"

  • Victoria McKim October 18, 2011 (8:36 am)

    We have bought Les Schwab tires for years and we love them! Great tires and great customer service too. So glad they’re in West Seattle now!

  • MsPam October 18, 2011 (9:14 am)

    They are going to have some stiff competition with Courtesy Tire which we have had around here for a long time. The guys at Courtesy are a tough bunch to beat!

  • dbsea October 18, 2011 (9:26 am)

    mmmm, I can smell those tires from here. Love the smell of new tires.

  • velo_nut October 18, 2011 (9:41 am)

    Les Schwab Customer Service is Epic. Have always been and will forever be a loyal customer.

  • Robert Rogers October 18, 2011 (9:46 am)

    Our plans are that it will become a major destination of people needing automobile services in West Seattle.

    In so far as my property being an eyesore, I apologize to the citizens of West Seattle.

    Robert Rogers (property owner)

  • rick October 18, 2011 (10:07 am)

    Courtesy may be good…but Les Schwab is the epidemy of great service. I will be there.

  • Cowpie October 18, 2011 (10:30 am)

    Robert,

    You have nothing to apologize for. I’m sure your property is zoned for such a business to be there. Now lets hope someone leases your property where the rental place was. I beleive you also own the ‘closed’ gas station location? What’s the plan with that?

  • celeste17 October 18, 2011 (10:38 am)

    I was watching them roll out the tires this morning, while I waited for my bus. It was funny to see the tires roll out and then being caught and stacked.

    Welcome to the neighborhood, glad you are here and when I need a tire fixed I will check you out.

  • rockyraccoon October 18, 2011 (10:55 am)

    They’re the plague of great service? No thanks!

  • dmtippy October 18, 2011 (12:06 pm)

    Love Les Schwab. A few years ago starting out on a 2 week camping trip, our tent trailer tire blew out going down the freeway in Idaho. My first thought was Thank goodness we are in Les Schwab country. They got us fixed up and back on the road quickly on a Saturday afternoon. Welcome to West Seattle.

  • Rick October 18, 2011 (12:45 pm)

    I was really hoping for cake and cookies for the grand opening. Oh well.

  • Bostonman October 18, 2011 (2:07 pm)

    I have actually held off on getting tires for my car until they opened. I needed them a month ago. Loved the customer service when I lived in Portland and they saved my butt a few times when I would go elk hunting in Prineville.

  • DaveB October 18, 2011 (3:03 pm)

    Only 106 more days until Free Beef Days!

  • Wendel October 18, 2011 (3:16 pm)

    Gotta echo the kudos to Courtesy Tire. They have been in the neighborhood for years and stand behind their work big time. I have been going to their shop now for perhaps 12 years.

  • curbed_wheel October 18, 2011 (5:43 pm)

    Welcome to West Seattle Les Schwab!

    You guys repairing curbed wheels too ;-)

  • Dc October 18, 2011 (7:15 pm)

    Any grand opening sales?

  • Bob Loblaw October 18, 2011 (7:42 pm)

    Rick: The doughnuts weren’t good enough?

    (And, welcome! Glad to see one less decaying lot/empty building at the entrance to town)

  • Karl October 18, 2011 (7:52 pm)

    Welcome to the neighborhood Les Schwab
    I been buying tires and service for 30 years great customer service never a problem!!! No Bull just Beef!!!

    As for the competition, lead, follow, or get out of the way. We the customer will always win!!

    again welcome to the hood and look forward to the grand openning

  • Robert Rogers October 19, 2011 (7:11 am)

    Thank you for your kind response.
    The only property we own in West Seattle is what Les Schwab now occupies.

  • Charlie Austin October 19, 2011 (9:52 am)

    I rolled into Les Schwab with my bus at 1030 yesterday morning looking for an estimate on valve extenders. Before I knew it they offered and removed the tires off the rear axle, brought them up to proper pressure, put them back on, ordered the new parts and had me on my way in 20 minutes. GREAT SERVICE!!! The Kenney Retirement Home now has a new place to “retire”.

  • Sonoma October 22, 2011 (3:06 pm)

    Too bad the Les Schwab corporate Web site doesn’t list the phone number of the new place. Anyone know?

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