Les Schwab Tire Centers will open a new, full-service store in Montrose on July 23, bringing more than a dozen jobs and a range of automotive services to the community.
The 10,500-square-foot store at 1528 Montrose Drive will feature seven interior bays and provide tires “from a little hand cart all the way up to semi or equipment side tires,” store manager Nick Degler said.
Services will include tires for passenger and light trucks, farm and industrial vehicles, as well as “suspension, brakes, alignment services, steering, and batteries,” Degler said.
Degler, who most recently managed the Les Schwab store in Pocatello, Idaho, said he is excited to settle into Montrose with his family.
“My last store was in Eastern Idaho, in Pocatello,” he said. “Before that I was in Albany, Oregon… We did a lot of work for farmers over there — a lot of grass seed farming. My wife was very involved in 4H and FFA when she was going up through school, so I kind of involve her. I know I’m the manager of the business, but I involve her especially when it’s the community outreach. She likes to be with me — and our kids — and bring our kids so they’re involved in it and see it.”
The Montrose store will employ 12 people, including Degler and his assistant. “I’ve got just a couple more interviews this afternoon,” he said in early July. “We’ll have eight officially on the roster and a couple more to go.”
Degler said the company is planning a soft opening on July 23 and will offer promotional pricing through its grand opening period. “We definitely have specials going all the way through from soft opening through grand opening,” he said. “You don’t need to have the coupon. I’ve got copies of them here.”
Founded in 1952 in Prineville, Oregon, Les Schwab began as a single tire shop run by company namesake Les Schwab, a former logger and World War II veteran. Schwab bought an existing store with borrowed money and grew it into a company known for its strong customer service, profit-sharing model, and community values.
Over the next seven decades, Les Schwab became one of the largest independent tire dealers in the country. It now operates more than 590 locations in 15 states with over 8,500 employees. The company remains known for its practice of promoting from within and its focus on employee training and long-term career growth.
“That really comes down to the small-town roots,” Degler said. “That’s really where we’re at. Smaller town is where we were born… Even for me personally, I’m from smaller rural towns. So is my wife. That’s just where we’re from. Not really a city person.”
The Montrose store is the company’s sixth in western Colorado and follows a December 2024 purchase of four locations from Four States Tires & Service, including stores in Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs.
Degler said the store has already started engaging with the local community. “I just signed up for the fair auction — 4H — and I’ll be there as a buyer to help support that,” he said. “And I’ve been working with the gentleman, David, at the fairgrounds… exploring some other sponsorship opportunities.”
He also mentioned a corporate program called Tires for a Purpose: “That is one where we’re working with a nonprofit organization, sort of a community organization that has a need of transportation — a vehicle or something — and we’re doing a full set of tires for their vehicle. That’s actually in the works.”
Degler emphasized a commitment to service. “Our goal is to definitely always greet out at the vehicle, not just wait for the customer. We want to come to them, uphold and give the best customer service that we can — world-class customer service.”
As he gets settled, Degler said he’s eager to explore the area. “It’s a beautiful place — a little different than the big trees I was used to,” he said. “But big, beautiful mountains around here, and yeah, I’m excited to explore.”
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
