The Weinstein and Schonagel families competed for decades in the state’s family-owned retail tire industry, so it was a bit ironic when the two sides found themselves at the negotiating table earlier this year.
Andy and Paige Weinstein, who founded East Haven’s Star Tires & Wheels, recently purchased Hartford-based Tires Plus Wheels, opened 25 years ago by Fred Schonagel. Following Schonagel’s death in 2000, his wife, Jane Schonagel, took over the company’s management, but was looking for an exit strategy earlier this year.
“In April, I got a phone call from Jane Schonagel, and it was completely out of the blue,” said Andy Weinstein. “It wasn’t on our radar [to purchase it]. It was an existing business.”
The Weinstein’s agreed to purchase Tires Plus Wheels’ fully equipped shop and garage for an undisclosed sum, giving the family-owned business its first presence in the Capital City.
Even though they were located in different counties, Fred Schonagel’s and Andy Weinstein’s tire companies competed for decades. The two would even attend an annual automotive specialty products trade show together in Las Vegas, and compete in landing deals with long-term customers and parts suppliers.
“We would bump into each other once in a while,” said Andy Weinstein.
In July, the Weinstein’s held a grand reopening of their new Hartford location on Wethersfield Avenue, which they have renamed Star Tires Plus Wheels. The new facility gives the Weinstein’s the opportunity to expand their customer base and increase their buying power with suppliers, which should translate into savings for customers, Andy Weinstein said.
“We can now push the prices down. It’s much easier to distribute from two locations and with a greater set of items,” said Andy Weinstein said.
The Weinstein’s two auto/tire shops, which now bear the same name, have 10 employees. There are plans to expand the Hartford garage and build a larger supplier base.
The key to growing the business and remaining competitive with larger industry players, Paige Weinstein said, is keeping customers happy.
“Everybody can sell a tire. The difference is in the environment,” said Paige Weinstein. “It’s not like having an 18-year-old behind the counter who knows nothing. Andy and I are always in the store.”
Andy Weinstein said they advertise their products in magazines and on the Spanish-speaking channel Telemundo, but positive word of mouth drives most of their customer traffic, which is derived from as far away as Springfield.
Setting foot in Hartford also offers an emotional appeal to Paige Weinstein. Her grandfather’s and father’s Scharr Pharmacy was a landmark on Albany Avenue before it was lost during the 1960 riots.
“I was a transplant,” said Paige Weinstein. “That would be, for me, the highlight, to come into the store and remember my father’s business.”
Meantime, four generations of Andy Weinstein’s family has owned and still runs Elm City Cheese in Hamden.
Andy Weinstein started Star Tire & Wheels in Hamden in 1984 and moved the company to West Haven in 1985. His wife Paige joined him in the business in 1994.
Growing up in New Haven and Orange, Andy Weinstein said he always expected to be his own boss.
“Watching my family’s dedication to their business, I knew self-employment was what I wanted,” he said. “I did work for another tire store for four years, but then the pull of having my own business led me to start Star Tire & Wheels.”
