Telle Tire & Auto Centers

General information

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At Telle Tire & Auto Service, we take pride in servicing your car, truck, or SUV. We have been serving the St. Louis area for over 60 years.

In 1942, C. Arthur Telle Sr. and Dan Froesel found a second-hand retreading mold and formed a business recapping tires. World War II created a strong demand for recapping tires. Soon, the business outgrew Froesel's mother's garage on Hoover Avenue in Richmond Heights and they expanded to a storefront located on Highland Terrace.

Again in 1946, business growth forced another move and Froesel-Telle built its current building at Big Bend Boulevard and Dale Avenue.

Froesel-Telle was clearly the top choice of St. Louis drivers in 1952, thus the need for doubling the size of its building to continue retreading operations. Four years later, the retreading operation was moved and the Big Bend location began focusing exclusively on retail tire and auto service.

In 1962, Telle embarked on a milestone year, with each agreeing that their future business interests were better served individually, and Telle and Froesel went their separate ways. The senior Telle, joined by his son, Chuck, took sole ownership of the Big Bend site.

To better service its customers in 1976, Telle Tire added a 5,000-tire capacity warehouse to its business. The following year, Telle Tire Company was recognized as Missouri's first "Tire Service Specialist Shop" by the National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association.

Although business continued to increase, the achievement turned bittersweet in 1978 as founder, C. Arthur Telle Sr., passed away at age 81.

Telle made an extensive image enhancement in 1982. Prominent St. Louis designer Marcia Smith was hired to oversee the redesign, which is another indication of Telle's first-class approach to business and customer satisfaction. First, the customer waiting areas and offices were transformed, followed by the shop areas.

Advancements in automotive technology in 1988 demanded more diagnostic and specialized engine work. Telle responded by purchasing and renovating a building directly across from its main shop on Dale Avenue. The building would be specifically used to concentrate on these areas of auto repair.

In 1992, upon Chuck Telle's retirement, a third generation of Telles, sons Mark and Scott, assumed the operation of the family business. In 2003, a proud moment for the Telle family occurred as second-generation owner Chuck Telle was inducted into the Missouri Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the association's annual convention. The timing of this honor was made all the more important as Chuck Telle succumbed to a nine-month illness and passed away in May of 2006 at age 79. Thankfully, Chuck lived long enough to see the beginning of the fourth generation of Telles enter the business as Scott Telle's son, Aaron, has been employed full time since 2003.

In May of 2008, Mark Telle retired from the business. He remained part owner of Telle Tire with his brother, Scott, but was no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, passing on many of his duties to his nephew, Aaron Telle.

In 2009, Scott Telle became ill and his 14-year battle with a rare blood disease came to an end. Subsequent to his bone marrow transplant in 1997, Scott had been able to work side by side with his son, Aaron, to show him how to run the family business. “It is a memory I will never forget and will always be grateful that I had an opportunity to work with my father,” proudly states Aaron Telle. In August 2011, Scott will join his father, Charles A. Telle, in the Missouri Tire Dealers Hall of Fame.

Aaron Telle has been President of Telle Tire & Auto Service since 2009 and running day-to-day operations since January 2007. In November 2010, Aaron officially became fourth-generation owner of the family company. To increase service offerings within St. Louis, in May 2011, Telle Tire expanded operations to a second location in Sunset Hills on South Lindbergh Boulevard.

This year, as the corporation celebrates its 69th Anniversary, the Telle tradition of providing personal service, quality products, and business innovations remains as important today as it was for Chuck Telle and his father in the mid-1900s.