Telle Tire Opens on Tornado Site, Hosts Welcome Barbecue

Telle Tire and Auto Service—a fourth-generation family business from Richmond Heights—opened up this week in Sunset Hills at the old Richey's Auto Repair, after Richey's was badly damaged in the .

Telle Tire and Auto Service's grand opening this week (May 16-21) includes a $10 donation for every tire sold to the city's Tornado Relief Fund, and a $5 donation for every oil change. Oil changes cost $21.95 through Aug. 31.

A giant Firestone blow-up baseball is in the front parking lot—can't miss it.

Then Saturday is a big barbecue on the parking lot and sweet prizes to win: A set of four Bridgestone tires, eight Cardinals tickets (in sets of two) and free oil changes for a whole year—for four lucky winners.

Aaron Telle now runs the business started by his great-grandfather in 1942, in Richmond Heights. The elder Telle and a partner named Froesel started re-treading tires (when it was called capping) during World War II since rubber was scarce on the home front.

By 1945, the business grew into tires and auto repairs, maintenance and inspection services.

Telle and Froesel eventually split, with Froesel servicing primarily trucks. Telle kept the location of the earliest store to this day, in Richmond Heights, at Big Bend and Daly.

The new Sunset Hills shop has six bays and all new equipment, but experienced staff from the Richmond Heights store.

There is free Internet service in the waiting area for surfing or keeping up with work while you wait. There is also free shuttle service if you leave your car to be worked on.

It's located on Lindbergh Boulevard across from and next door to b, at 3819 S. Lindbergh Boulevard.

As Richey's Auto, the building was badly damaged in the tornado, and "Richey" apparently quit the business.

Telle is all newly remodeled, and employees seem very friendly.