Discount Tire Permanently Closes Brooklyn Center Store
As anyone who owns a car can attest, sometimes, things happen.
“Somehow I rolled over a nail or a screw on the highway, so my tire popped,” said D’Shonte Carter of Fridley.
Carter was hoping to get her tire repaired at Brooklyn Center’s Discount Tire, only to discover the business was permanently closed.
“I don’t even know where to go now,” Carter said.
Discount Tire didn’t immediately respond to a request to explain the reason for the closure. A message sent to customers referred them to other locations in Brooklyn Park and Columbia Heights.
“It’s too bad, I mean, we don’t have a lot of businesses,” said Doug Stafford of Brooklyn Center. “I was here when the old mall was here, and that shut down.”
Discount Tire is yet another business to close at Shingle Creek Crossing. A nearby Michael’s serves as another recent example.
In 2019, Gatlin Development Company told the city council this has been a difficult area to redevelop since first opening Walmart in 2012.
Shattered glass in a parking lot outside of Discount Tire in Brooklyn Center.
“What a challenge it was and still is today, it was a major undertaking, a lot more than I gave credit to at the time,” said Frank Gatlin of Gatlin Development, speaking to the council in 2019.
Recent high-profile incidents involving shots being fired have certainly contributed to the perception of an unsafe environment.
On Monday, chunks of glass were visible on the ground that were left over from a shooting that happened in May. That incident happened during broad daylight, right across from Discount Tire.
“Being out here and shooting each other, what is that gonna solve? It’s not going solve anything,” said Antoinette Range of Brooklyn Park. “I’m scared to take my babies to the park now.”
Whatever the case may be, employees of Discount Tire spent Monday morning clearing out the business. Would-be customers were left wondering what’s next.
“I don’t know what the answer is,” said Stafford. “I don’t blame businesses for packing up and heading out.”
See Also: Shots Fired in Brooklyn Center at Shingle Creek Crossing Shopping Center
