| Southeastern Tire Service, Inc. |
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| Proudly Serving Murfreesboro & Rutherford County Since 1950 |
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| 1406 NW Broad Street ● Murfreesboro, TN 37129 ● Phone: (615) 893-5554 Fax: (615) 893-5595 ● Toll Free: (800) 957-2725 |
Southeastern Tire Service's roots date back to at least 1940. Carl
Walling was the proprietor of Southeastern Flour Company, Inc., a
flour manufacturing mill located at 114 Bridge Avenue. The mill
was located on the corner of Cannon and Bridge Avenue, in a
part of Murfreesboro called Westvue. This building still stands
today and is still in use by Ring Plumbing.
In 1947, Walling started Southeastern Oil Company located next
door to the flour mill. Southeastern Oil was a distributor of Shell
Oil products, Goodyear, and Armstrong tires, and also recapped
tires. The flour mill was closed sometime between 1950 and 1954.
In 1956 Walling spilt and sold Southeastern Oil and Southeastern
Tire and Battery Service. T.S. Nelms, Jr. bought Southeastern Oil.
Nelms owned Southeastern Oil until 1983. Henderson Oil
Company bought it out in 1984. J. Roy Rowlette and Melvin Meeks
bought Southeastern Tire and Battery Service.
Rowlette became sole owner of Southeastern Tire and Battery in
1958. In 1964, Southeastern Tire and Battery moved to 316 N.
Front Street and remained there until 1995. From 1962-1963,
Rowlette had a partner named William H. Crowder. On April 1,
1971, Leonard Anderson, Southeastern's accountant, and Nelson
Armstrong bought Southeastern Tire Service from Rowlette.
Southeastern Tire's sign has been a part of the business since
1976. It was previously the sign of the popular Lane Cleaners. At
one time it was the second largest sign in Murfreesboro, second
only to Motel Murfreesboro.
Through the seventies, Southeastern Tire grew along with
Murfreesboro. A wholesale department began at Southeastern
Tire and was operated by Roy Rowlette's brother Hargis Rowlette.
In 1976, a recapping shop opened on Maney Avenue where Lane
Cleaners was formerly located. In 1983, Nelson Armstrong
became the sole owner.
As a result of growth and lack of space, a warehouse for tires was
built on Burton Street in 1985 with storing capabilities of 3,000
tires. During the mid-1980s, the business experienced rapid
growth.
As a result of growth in the retail and wholesale divisions, a tire
warehouse was built at 1406 NW Broad Street in 1990. It was from
this location that Southeastern Tire operated its wholesale
business. The progress in Murfreesboro prompted Southeastern
to move its retail business to this Broad Street location in August
1995, and it is here where it runs its retail and wholesale
operation today.
In October of 2006, wanting to retire, Nelson Armstrong sold the
business to Sean Brown, a 10 year employee who had been
managing the store since 2000. Seeing the need for more
mechanical service, Sean extended the business to become a full
service auto repair facility in April 2009.
Southeastern Tire owes its growth and success to our hard-
working employees and many loyal customers of Murfreesboro
and Rutherford County. Over the years the business has grown
with Murfreesboro, but some things will always remain the same:
Honesty, integrity, and golden rule service that you
have trusted since 1950.
Walling was the proprietor of Southeastern Flour Company, Inc., a
flour manufacturing mill located at 114 Bridge Avenue. The mill
was located on the corner of Cannon and Bridge Avenue, in a
part of Murfreesboro called Westvue. This building still stands
today and is still in use by Ring Plumbing.
In 1947, Walling started Southeastern Oil Company located next
door to the flour mill. Southeastern Oil was a distributor of Shell
Oil products, Goodyear, and Armstrong tires, and also recapped
tires. The flour mill was closed sometime between 1950 and 1954.
In 1956 Walling spilt and sold Southeastern Oil and Southeastern
Tire and Battery Service. T.S. Nelms, Jr. bought Southeastern Oil.
Nelms owned Southeastern Oil until 1983. Henderson Oil
Company bought it out in 1984. J. Roy Rowlette and Melvin Meeks
bought Southeastern Tire and Battery Service.
Rowlette became sole owner of Southeastern Tire and Battery in
1958. In 1964, Southeastern Tire and Battery moved to 316 N.
Front Street and remained there until 1995. From 1962-1963,
Rowlette had a partner named William H. Crowder. On April 1,
1971, Leonard Anderson, Southeastern's accountant, and Nelson
Armstrong bought Southeastern Tire Service from Rowlette.
Southeastern Tire's sign has been a part of the business since
1976. It was previously the sign of the popular Lane Cleaners. At
one time it was the second largest sign in Murfreesboro, second
only to Motel Murfreesboro.
Through the seventies, Southeastern Tire grew along with
Murfreesboro. A wholesale department began at Southeastern
Tire and was operated by Roy Rowlette's brother Hargis Rowlette.
In 1976, a recapping shop opened on Maney Avenue where Lane
Cleaners was formerly located. In 1983, Nelson Armstrong
became the sole owner.
As a result of growth and lack of space, a warehouse for tires was
built on Burton Street in 1985 with storing capabilities of 3,000
tires. During the mid-1980s, the business experienced rapid
growth.
As a result of growth in the retail and wholesale divisions, a tire
warehouse was built at 1406 NW Broad Street in 1990. It was from
this location that Southeastern Tire operated its wholesale
business. The progress in Murfreesboro prompted Southeastern
to move its retail business to this Broad Street location in August
1995, and it is here where it runs its retail and wholesale
operation today.
In October of 2006, wanting to retire, Nelson Armstrong sold the
business to Sean Brown, a 10 year employee who had been
managing the store since 2000. Seeing the need for more
mechanical service, Sean extended the business to become a full
service auto repair facility in April 2009.
Southeastern Tire owes its growth and success to our hard-
working employees and many loyal customers of Murfreesboro
and Rutherford County. Over the years the business has grown
with Murfreesboro, but some things will always remain the same:
Honesty, integrity, and golden rule service that you
have trusted since 1950.
| Old Front Street Location 1981 |
| Front Street Location 1994 |
| Hanging of the sign on Broad Street Location August 1995 |
| Current store front |
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