In just nine years in the business, Danny's Tire Services has grown into not just two but three branches serving the Corpus Christi area repairing and selling new and used tires.
For owner and manager, Danny Almaguer, the secrets of his success include relentless hard work, quality tires, affordable prices and great service that keeps customers coming back.
“We offer fast service when it comes to flat repair, wheel alignment and tire rotation,” Almaguer told Corpus Christi Business News. “You'll find our prices competitive versus other discount tire shops around town.”
Used tires at Danny’s start from $25 and come with a 30-day warranty. The company also offers a variety of new tires as well and honors each manufacturer's warranty.
As a college student in Monterrey, Mexico, Almaguer never thought he would have a career in the used tire business. Instead, he aspired to work in the real estate field. But his plans took a new direction after meeting a certain accounting student, who later became his wife.
In 2002, Danny and Mirna Almaguer moved to Mirna's hometown of Corpus Christi. Her father, Casimiro Hinojosa, invited Danny to join him in running the family owned and operated Casimiro Hinojosa Tire Service, which is still in service today. For the next 10 years, Almaguer learned the ins and outs of the trade.
Danny and Mirna eventually decided they knew enough to branch out on their own, so they rented a shop and got to work.
"It was hard, at first, I was working by myself doing 14-hour days from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, including Sundays,” Almaguer said. “I did everything from answering phones, performing tire services, then running the cash register."
In a few short years, Almaguer raised the capital needed to buy a larger building on Baldwin Street, creating Danny's Tire Service #2, which he currently manages.
A year later, after both stores were able to operate independently and business continued to grow, Danny's Tire Service #3 opened a few miles away on South Port Avenute. Over the years, the staff grew from one to12 employees at the three venues.
Each of the three stores promises and provides the “same quality service and offers the exact same affordable prices,” Almaguer said.
"Each manager operates each store with the same vision and mission customers have come to expect from Danny's Tire Service," he continued.
The growth in stores and customers has not affected Almaguer’s goal of being accessible to all his clients.
"They still call him on the original phone number we started off with,” Mirna Almaguer said. “Regardless of how busy he is, he still tries to be the one to answer.”
Inside Store #2, where Almaguer bases most of his operations, photos of the couple’s three children — Angelo Daniel, 8; Alesandro Daniel, 6; and Alexia Daniela, 3 — hang in pride of place.
"Our eldest son is already helping his dad, running errands and moving tires around,” Mirna Almaguer said. “We want our kids to be able to finish school and pursue their dreams, but if any of them wants to take over the family business someday, that would make us happy.”
Danny Almaguer plans to continue providing the best service he can to his customers for as long as he can.
"Our goal is to try to be the best used tire service company in Corpus Christi,” he said. “Our customers can rely on us to deliver outstanding customer service and the highest-quality and lowest-priced used and new tires.”
Danny's Tire Service has three locations: 4701 Kostoryz in Corpus Christi; 2814 Baldwin Blvd. in Corpus Christi; and 1502 S. Port Ave. in Corpus Christi. For more information, call (361) 533-570 or visit dannystireservice.com.
