VIP Tires rolls into newly renovated midcoast location

An exterior view of a building and drivway and lawn.

Photo / Courtesy VIP Tires and Service VIP Tires and Service relocated from Rockland to a larger, updated space in Rockport.

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By Laurie Schreiber

VIP Tires and Service continues a growth streak of late.

In the past year, that’s included the acquisition of Center Automotive in Needham, Mass; Joe’s Tire Shop in Waterbury, Conn.; Tires International in Manchester, Conn.; and Wallingford Tire & Auto in Connecticut.

In April, the Auburn-based company said it cut the ribbon on larger stores in Portland and Augusta, providing improved layouts, more space and state-of-the-art equipment.

VIP operates about 75 New England locations, up from 40 in 2001. The workforce has grown from about 490 in 2020 to over 750 today.

Now, VIP has relocated a midcoast service center, from 137 Camden St. in Rockland to 1075 Commercial St. in Rockport, about a mile to the north. The new location is 10,000 square feet, roughly triple the old space.

The store opened May 23, but VIP will host a ribbon-cutting on June 18, at 10 a.m.

“The move to a larger, modernized facility is a big win for our Rockport-area customers and our team,” said Tim Winkeler, VIP’s president and CEO.

VIP was at the Rockland location since 1993.

A former Denny's

The Rockport facility represents an upgrade. The building formerly housed a Denny’s restaurant. Renovations include installation of an eight-bay service shop, a showroom and a tire warehouse that holds over 2,000 tires.

There are updated customer bathrooms and a fully renovated interior designed for improved customer experience.

The addition of the eight-bay shop enhances VIP’s service capabilities, allowing for more efficient vehicle maintenance and repairs. The shop is outfitted with the latest technology in automated vehicle inspection and diagnostic equipment, according to the release.

The Rockport store has 10 employees, including its manager.

VIP, established in 1926, is northern New England’s largest privately held automotive service provider and tire dealer.