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Lake City Tire Company owner Al Rollison, right, discusses an engine repair with lead technician Jim Givens Tuesday afternoon in the downtown auto repair shop. Rollison said for locally owned small business to survive, Lake City residents need to shop with each other. The store can be reached at (386) 752-6614. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)
Venture downtown with the mindset of quality work at a better price and the surprise would be a nice money-saver. That’s the message Al Rollison said he tries to convey to people looking for any automotive repairs and purchasing new tires in Lake City.
“We’ve always tried to give people a reason to come downtown and that’s because our service is excellent,” said Rollison, who has owned Lake City Tire Company at 113 SW Nassau St., since 1994. “We give people quick, quality, same-day service.”
Lake City Tire is an independent tire and automotive center that has been at its downtown location since 1983. Rollison bought the business 26 years ago and has been through several economic shifts, but nothing like the current coronavirus slowdown.
“Our business has slowed down a lot, probably off 25 percent, but we’ll get through it,” Rollison said. “We need more local people doing business with locally owned small business and this is the perfect time to get repairs done or get new tires.
“I take pride in knowing my customers and those I don’t know, I want to meet when you come in here. If people will stop by and give us an opportunity to earn your business, I feel confident they will stay our customers.”
Lake City Tire Company offers three full-service garage bays with hydraulic lifts to elevate vehicles for work. The business can do all types of tire work, brake repairs, shocks, front-end alignments and repairs, tune-ups, engine repairs, transmission service and repair, air conditioner service, and any computer diagnostic work for all domestic and most foreign cars and trucks. They also do oil changes and normal maintenance checks on vehicles.
Rollison employs four full-time mechanics who average more than 20 years experience each.
“Our prices are more competitive and our service is better and that’s why people come back,” Rollison said. “When I quote a price on the phone for a job somebody needs, there are no surprise add-ons. We give you the real price and we stick by it.
“My motto has always been: If you do good work for someone, they will tell at least 10 people. I believe this and I know it’s true. We live by it here in our business.”
Lake City Tire Company is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. - noon on Saturday. The business is located in the heart of downtown at 113 SW Nassau St., one block south of U.S. Highway 90 on the corner of South Marion Avenue. It is across U.S. 90 from the courthouse complex and faces the Chamber of Commerce office across Nassau Street. Call Lake City Tire at (386) 752-6614.
“We’re always trying to give people a reason to come downtown,” Rollison said. “We hope while they are having a tire changed or their car worked on, maybe they will take a walk downtown and check it out. Right now, we just need more customers to come down here.”