I guess it all started in around, 1961. Bob Lee and Harlean Lee decided to move from North Carolina to California, in search of a dream.
The dream began with Bob working at a furniture store doing odd jobs and finding out quickly that this really was not the dream. His dream, was in the automotive industry. After his realization that furniture was not close to the dream, Bob found himself working at a gas station in around the area of 49th & Figueroa in Los Angeles. The owner of the then Texaco gas station took bob under his wing and began to show him the business. The gas station also doubled as a National Trailer rental office, which gave Bob yet another way to make money.
In a few years the owner of the gas station decided to retire and asked Bob if he would like to own it. Having relatively no savings, Bob took a loan out from a friend and floated the rest with the owner. Very quickly the loans were paid and the station was his.
Sadly enough, in late summer 1965 the Watts Riots would destroy the gas station, again leaving Bob and Harlean without means for the dream.
Later in the year, through a contact with the oil industry, Bob found a lead on a Gulf gas station just off the 405 freeway and Rosecrans. This station would set the bar for their proper leap into business. The station was surrounded on each corner by gas stations thus making survival tough to say the least! Bob took off running by canvassing the entire neighborhood for a 3 mile radius with “Bob’s Gulf” paraphernalia. Tops saying “Spin on over to Bob’s Gulf, Frisbee’s saying “Fly on over to Bob’s Gulf were just a few of the Bob’s campaign tools.
A few years later, Bob’s Gulf was the largest grossing gas and “TBA” station west of the Mississippi! (TBA was an acronym meaning Tires, Batteries, and Accessories.) Bob and Harlean were clearly on they way to realizing their dream!
As Bob became seasoned the gas station business, he realized there was money to be made in the sales of Tires as well. Tires were a partial part of gas station business and Bob vowed to make a much more integral part! After negotiations with the city and Gulf oil, he was able to add another bay onto his building and added an additional tire warehouse as well. Now remembering that in the early 70’s there were just a handful of tire sizes, Bob pretty much had enough stock on hand to satisfy most customers that rang the bell driving in.
With the business in full swing The Lee’s were about to be hit again with another blow below the belt. In around 1975 Gulf Oil decided to completely leave the west coast, taking all, including Bob and Harlean’s station with them. The move was even featured on the show “Weekend”, which featured and interview with Bob.
Now with the second business literally taken away, Bob and Harlean searched for another location, this time focusing mainly on the Tire industry, having enough with the Oil industry! After a few months of searching they found a Tire store that was up for sale on Hawthorne blvd in Torrance. This seemed to fit the bill! After again negotiating with banks and some friends, Bob and Harlean were able to close the deal and Lee’s Tires was born!
Family History
Family History
I guess it all started in around, 1961. Bob Lee and Harlean Lee decided to move from North Carolina to California, in search of a dream.
The dream began with Bob working at a furniture store doing odd jobs and finding out quickly that this really was not the dream. His dream, was in the automotive industry. After his realization that furniture was not close to the dream, Bob found himself working at a gas station in around the area of 49th & Figueroa in Los Angeles. The owner of the then Texaco gas station took bob under his wing and began to show him the business. The gas station also doubled as a National Trailer rental office, which gave Bob yet another way to make money.
In a few years the owner of the gas station decided to retire and asked Bob if he would like to own it. Having relatively no savings, Bob took a loan out from a friend and floated the rest with the owner. Very quickly the loans were paid and the station was his.
Sadly enough, in late summer 1965 the Watts Riots would destroy the gas station, again leaving Bob and Harlean without means for the dream.
Later in the year, through a contact with the oil industry, Bob found a lead on a Gulf gas station just off the 405 freeway and Rosecrans. This station would set the bar for their proper leap into business. The station was surrounded on each corner by gas stations thus making survival tough to say the least! Bob took off running by canvassing the entire neighborhood for a 3 mile radius with “Bob’s Gulf” paraphernalia. Tops saying “Spin on over to Bob’s Gulf, Frisbee’s saying “Fly on over to Bob’s Gulf were just a few of the Bob’s campaign tools.
A few years later, Bob’s Gulf was the largest grossing gas and “TBA” station west of the Mississippi! (TBA was an acronym meaning Tires, Batteries, and Accessories.) Bob and Harlean were clearly on they way to realizing their dream!
As Bob became seasoned the gas station business, he realized there was money to be made in the sales of Tires as well. Tires were a partial part of gas station business and Bob vowed to make a much more integral part! After negotiations with the city and Gulf oil, he was able to add another bay onto his building and added an additional tire warehouse as well. Now remembering that in the early 70’s there were just a handful of tire sizes, Bob pretty much had enough stock on hand to satisfy most customers that rang the bell driving in.
With the business in full swing The Lee’s were about to be hit again with another blow below the belt. In around 1975 Gulf Oil decided to completely leave the west coast, taking all, including Bob and Harlean’s station with them. The move was even featured on the show “Weekend”, which featured and interview with Bob.
Now with the second business literally taken away, Bob and Harlean searched for another location, this time focusing mainly on the Tire industry, having enough with the Oil industry! After a few months of searching they found a Tire store that was up for sale on Hawthorne blvd in Torrance. This seemed to fit the bill! After again negotiating with banks and some friends, Bob and Harlean were able to close the deal and Lee’s Tires was born!