This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Wheels at Fort Lee Tire Center Keep on Turning

Fort Lee Tire Center is there to help fix any problem

Now in its 40th year, , came to fruition on Main Street in 1971 when Tom Argiro Sr. rented garage space in the basement of Squires Delicatessen (remember them?).

At the age of 10, Tom Sr. had started in the car business with his father Al in Fort Lee, where he learned the know-how of the business. He worked with his father until he attended Pace college, where he earned a business degree. Al later became the owner of Al’s Deli in the borough (something else people may remember).

Tom Sr. learned the actual trade while working for Good Year Tires, with whom he was employed for about a year.

“I saw the opportunity to make a living in the industry and worked hard on Main Street.” Tom Sr. said, “In the early years, downstairs under the deli, customers were scarce. When the basement flooded due to rain or a leak, I would have to change a tire when I was knee deep in water. Nothing seemed to matter or was more important to me than to keep business afloat and to support my customers needs. I grew the business myself.”

Tom Jr., now the manager of the Fort Lee Tire said he started at Fort Lee Tire in 1984 when business had grown to the point where his father could move the business to its current location at 2419 Lemoine Ave.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"He was working alone; he had to add employees to go with the flow of business," Tom Jr. said. "Word of mouth traveled about the move along with the integrity of Tom Sr.’s work that continues today."

He added continued, “The competition was present and called for strategic pricing and competent work.”

Tom Jr. equates tough and challenging ceconomic times to a "double-edged sword;" people are keeping their cars instead of getting new ones. As a result, business at Fort Lee Tire has actually increased, and their customer base has exanded. But he also said working six days a week takes its toll.

“We do have to be ultra competitive though by keeping our prices fair and at the same time make a profit,” Tom Jr. said.

Having been in the tire and care repair business for a long time, Tom Argiro Sr. said he's "undecided about the future." 

"Tom Jr., hopefully, will continue the business," he said. "With six seasoned workers currently employed, the idea of leaving the business to Junior will make my retiring easier. The main thing is to run the business right, take care of customers and make them comfortable with our service.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

He said one "modern" problem he's encountered later in his career is that everyone has a computer and an Internet connection.

"Customers tend to believe computer information instead of us," Tom Sr. said. "It makes running the business harder. It challenges our business knowledge and hands-on experience."

Tom Sr. gave much of the credit for the present-day operation of Fort Lee Tire to his son.

"He manages everything at Fort Lee Tire," Tom Sr. said. "After he graduated from Manhattan College, he went into business with my father at Al’s Deli [mid 1990s to early 2000s]. After my dad sold the deli, Tom Jr. came to work with me."

Customers John and Donna on their way out of Fort Lee Tire said the father and son duo "always seem to know what we need for the car."

"They are the best," John said. "The job they do is exceptional. Whenever there's a problem, it's fixed right the first time. We're never steered in the wrong direction."

Tom Sr. added, "Our customers have come from Albany; one customer who moved to New Brunswick came for brakes and then another customer from Brooklyn came in for a bulb."

Fort Lee Tire is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays. can be reached by calling 201-947-3843.     

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?