Unsung Heroes |West Side Tire Grows over 50 Years
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Westside Tire and Service has been in Youngstown for 50 years. The family business has expanded to three locations and is now operated by the second generation.
Siblings Lisa Walters and Rich Rogenski oversee the business from the store at 2408 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown. The other two stores are in Austintown and Niles.
To support local charities, every fall Westside Tire hosts a car show.
The company also seeks donations so it can furnish school supplies and backpacks to students at McGuffey, Austintown and Niles elementary schools.
“Our vendors came through for us with cash, supplies, notebooks, pens and pencils,” Rogenski says.
The business is certified as “female friendly” through AskPatty.com, a website that educates women about cars. It now offers regular car clinics to educate local women.
“We had a Girl Scout troop come in one evening and we had a car clinic for them,” Walters says.
“We went to Austintown Fitch,” she continues. “One of the teachers called us and asked if we would come in and do a clinic for her class. It just continues to evolve.”
Among its three locations, Westside Tire employs 24.
Rogenski says the industry has changed since 1978 when he began to work for his father. As technology advances, day-to-day operations change as well.
But, he says, customer relationships remain the most important part of running a small business.
“As we grow and evolve as a community leader, we want to be more involved in bigger community projects,” Rogenski says.
Pictured: Lisa Walters and Rich Rogenski own Westside Tire and Service.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
