VIP Tires & Service has announced the official revamp and expansion of its existing location in Auburn, Maine to a newly renovated, larger space on the same property. VIP has renovated the former pool hall to be used as their new store, which has been under construction since January 2021. The relocation to the new building was needed due to an uptick in business in the Auburn area and outgrowing the original four-bay shop, VIP says. The new Auburn VIP Tires & Service store is located at 128 Center Street, Auburn, Maine, and is officially open to the public. The company plans to celebrate all month long with a few special discounts for customers including:
- Between September 13 and September 25: customers can buy three tires and get the fourth free, for Multi-Mile and Sumitomo tires.
- Between September 13 and October 23: customers can receive a Premium Valvoline Synthetic Oil Change PLUS for only $79.
“After eight months of work, we’re excited to celebrate the opening of our newly renovated Auburn location–we encourage locals interested in learning more about VIP to come on down, celebrate alongside us with our new specials, and see why we’re different,” said Tim Winkeler, president and CEO of VIP Tires & Service. “We’ve been part of the Auburn community since the 60s, and in order to provide the best possible experience for Mainers seeking a reliable automotive professional to work on their car, the expansion and remodel was necessary. We look forward to this new location allowing for more capacity so we can continue to provide our transparent and customer-focused offerings to even more Auburn residents.”
VIP Renovates Old Pool Hall on Existing Auburn Location’s Property
With the goal of investing in a space that already existed, John Quirk, executive chairman of VIP Tires & Service, purchased the old body shop facility in the 1960’s. The property was made into VIP’s first warehouse, but after VIP outgrew the space, it was split into two businesses, Gilman’s Electric (who still occupies half of the building today) and a pool hall. Today, the former pool hall has been refinished and boasts an 11,000 square-foot, fully renovated space with nine service bays, onsite tire storage space for 2,000 tires, and an advanced Hunter Engineering automated alignment and tire tread inspection system.
The expansion allows VIP to continue focusing on reducing wait times, providing accessibility to a broad array of tire manufacturers and price points, and holding large tire inventories onsite so customers can expect immediate tire installation after choosing their desired brand. O’Reilly’s Auto Parts will remain in the old VIP store and expand its offerings onsite.
VIP Tires & Service locations offer a tire shop and full-service automotive repair, with everything from brake repair to preventative maintenance, muffler and exhaust repair, multi-point vehicle inspections, wheel alignments, state inspections, and oil changes. In addition to providing superior automotive and tire services, VIP always puts its customers first by ensuring an exceptional in-store experience. The open concept customer waiting area features a laptop bar with multiple seats and individual plug-ins, a coffee and tea bar, renovated restrooms, and a TV sitting area, making it easy for individuals to stay connected to work and family while they wait for their vehicle. Additionally, the waiting area holds dozens of tires on display so customers can see and touch different models before making their purchase decision.
Rob Guptil, the original VIP Auburn manager, will continue to lead the VIP team as Manager for the new Auburn store and will oversee all operations at the location. When VIP’s Auburn location is fully staffed, customers will be greeted by a 10-person team, including Guptil, an assistant manager, one service writer, two master technicians, two ASE technicians and two installation technicians. VIP is currently seeking local applicants to fill a few open positions–please apply online by visiting VIP’s website.
