Harvey S. Firestone (1868-1938) founded The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, in August 1900, and started marketing solid rubber tires for carriage wheels. Firestone joined the retail store arena offering basic car service and tire sales in the mid-1920s when the original Firestone Service Centers were opened.
Fast forward approximately 80 years to 2004 when the retail subsidiary created Firestone Complete Fleet Care™ to cater to the needs of vehicle fleet owners. Offering more maintenance bays than any other fleet service provider in the world, Firestone Complete Fleet Care provides purchasing programs featuring competitive prices, centralized invoices and nationwide warranties at nearly 5,000 service locations across the country.
In 2005, the retail operation introduced a new name, Firestone Complete Auto Care™, and new layout for its retail stores to enhance the entire customer experience. The new stores are designed to offer a more pleasant environment, more convenient service and more personalized approach in the areas of maintenance, repairs and tires.
Today, BSRO is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — nearly 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care™, Tires Plus™, and Wheelworks™ store locations.
For more information about Bridgestone Retail Operations, please visit www.bsro.com.