Western Tire & Auto Store

[berwynson]

This business lingers in my mind, cannot place where it was, exactly, but certain of it's existence in the Berwyn/Cicero area. Surely a chain of stores, I have not been able to pinpoint any info on-line.

Anybody remember it?    berwynson

[watcher]

This business lingers in my mind, cannot place where it was, exactly, but certain of it's existence in the Berwyn/Cicero area. Surely a chain of stores, I have not been able to pinpoint any info on-line.

Anybody remember it?    berwynson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Auto

It was mainly a mail-order/drop ship/catalog retail operation. (Think J.C. Whitney) The stores carried very little stock-on-hand beyond common batteries, tires and a few shiny red bicycles for window dressing. They had very good distribution (for its day) network, so you could order on Monday and the goods would be delivered to the store by Friday.   It was gradually M&A'd out of existence.

My brain remembers a tiny Western Auto store along Cermak Rd east of Ridgeland, maybe Art's Bikes?

[buzz]

Back in the 50s they had a store in Chicago.  It was on SE corner of Ashland & Roscoe St. near Courtesy Motors.  That was owned by "Jim Moran the Courtesy Man".

[dualref]

There also was a Western Auto on Cicero Av just north of 16th St next to the old Taylor Forge. They had a small showroom. They also sold televisions, console stereos and washers and dryers besides the normal automotive stuff. I believe the Wizard brand were their appliance line. True-tone was their electronics line. As far as appliances & electronics went they had one or two examples of each in this store.

[berwynson]

This business lingers in my mind, cannot place where it was, exactly, but certain of it's existence in the Berwyn/Cicero area. Surely a chain of stores, I have not been able to pinpoint any info on-line.

Anybody remember it?    berwynson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Auto

It was mainly a mail-order/drop ship/catalog retail operation. (Think J.C. Whitney) The stores carried very little stock-on-hand beyond common batteries, tires and a few shiny red bicycles for window dressing. They had very good distribution (for its day) network, so you could order on Monday and the goods would be delivered to the store by Friday.   It was gradually M&A'd out of existence.

My brain remembers a tiny Western Auto store along Cermak Rd east of Ridgeland, maybe Art's Bikes?

Bingo! Way, way back, maybe around 1950 or so, I believe it was located in the corner store, Harvey & Cermak, northeast corner.  berwynson

[OakParkSpartan]

We had them back in Pennsylvania when I was growing up.

[ScovilleBob]

I worked briefly at a auto parts store in the east end of the Plaza in 1966. I don't remember the name.  Anybody remember that one.

[berwynson]

Only things I can recall in 1966 east end of Plaza were Sears, and close to the end of the strip mall building, G.C. Murphy. There could have been a store or two east of Murphy, not sure.   berwynson

[berwyn senator]

Arts toys,then came Imperial Camera,and Hajek Sports.Can't remember what was next.