Rick and Sara Johns bought Vaughn’s Tires almost two years ago. With new ownership and a new name, they’re hoping to gain more customers.
When Rick Johns started working for Vaughn’s Tire Service, he wasn’t even old enough to drive.
Then 15, Johns had to get rides from Plant City High School to the tire shop on North Wheeler Street. He’d work after school from 1 to 5 p.m., handing on-the-job training slips to owner Vaughn Gamble for a supervisor signature.
Twenty years later, Johns and his wife, Sara, have taken over the business and given it a new name: The Tire Shop of Plant City.
The couple bought the tire shop from Gamble about a year and one half ago, when Gamble made the decision to retire.
“We talked,” Rick Johns said. “He decided if I wanted it that he was going to offer the place to me first, before anybody else. Vaughn’s a character. He likes to laugh. I learned a lot from him, though. He pretty much showed me everything there is to do with tires.”
At first, Rick Johns wasn’t sure the tire industry was for him. But the 36-year-old doesn’t like to be confined to one area, and every day at the tire shop proved to be a different adventure. After being recommended to start at Vaughn’s by his friend’s father, Rick Johns continued to work in the tire business even after a few stints in other industries.
“I didn’t know that’s what I wanted to do,” Rick Johns said. “But I’m good with my hands, and I’m a people person. I like to do it myself. If you do it yourself, you know it’s done right. I was just a kid. (Vaughn) put me to work.”
“He can build or fix anything,” Sara Johns, his wife of 12 years, said. Besides her husband, she’s the shop’s only other employee. “He’s been doing this for 20 years. I’m trying to pick up a little bit. I know all of our customers.”
Hub of the Community
As a family-owned business, the Johns’ are focused on keeping the business community-oriented. The couple tries to host food drives and other events when their four children — Rylie, Nate, Eli and Addie — have similar ones at school. Their children frequently spend time with the family at the shop after school.
“We’re simple here,” Sara Johns said. “Our prices are very reasonable. It’s hard to compete with big companies, but you’re supporting a family instead of an executive. We care about our customers. Sometimes people come here
and they have kids in the car and no money. He won’t turn them away.”
The shop sells new and used tires and makes standard repairs, including repairs on four-wheel drive tires. With new and updated equipment, the couple is working toward being able to sell and repair even more commercial-sized tires.
“It’s usually about $10 for repairs and $30 per used tire,” Sara Johns said. “We can do bigger stuff now.”
Prices on new tires usually vary based on size.
Any extra money the family makes goes back into the shop. The couple has painted the building’s interior and is working on getting signage for the outside of the Wheeler Street shop. The community involvement carries on one of Gamble’s traditions. Prior to his retirement, Gamble was a foster parent and coached area softball and basketball.
“We were in debt when we started,” Sara Johns said. “It was a huge learning experience. But the more we have, the more we can give back.”
“If we keep them going, they’ll keep us going,” Rick Johns said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
