The Tire Review Top Shop Awards presented by Hennessy Industries seeks to honor the “best of the best” independent tire dealers in the U.S. and Canada. All four dealers will be featured in the upcoming October issue of Tire Review.

This year’s Top Shop winner is Gatto’s Tires & Auto Service, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida. The seven-location dealership, owned by Pamela Gatto, has been in business for 35 years. Founded in 1972 by her father, Mike Gatto, the company currently has 70 full-time employees and carries Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Toyo, Michelin, BFGoodrich and Delta tire lines. Gatto’s sees 98 percent of its sales come from the retail side, with tire sales making up 50 percent of its annual revenues.

“My father started this business in 1972 with the simple premise that we don’t sell tires and service, we sell peace of mind and make vehicles safe for our customers,” said Gatto. “It is exciting to win Top Shop and know that this premise and our commitment to the community is being recognized and celebrated.”

“From the beginning, the Top Shop Awards have been about spotlighting the dealer that best exemplifies those attributes and values we stress with every issue of Tire Review,” said Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review. “I think our judges did a great job in selecting four dealers who are true professionals, and in honoring Gatto’s as our first Top Shop winner.”

In addition to the Top Shop winner, three finalists are also honored each year. This year’s finalists include:

• Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center, based in Chapel Hill, N.C. In business for 54 years, the company has three locations, and 44 full- and part-time employees. Chapel Hill Tire is owned by Marc Pons, Britt Pons and Neill Bellamy.

• Community Tire and Automotive Service Specialists, located in Phoenix, Ariz. Community Tire is a seven-location dealership founded in 1992, and is owned by Howard Fleischmann, Kim Sigman and Claude Case.

• Redwood General Tire, an independent tire dealer located in Redwood City, Calif. The company has been family-owned and operated since 1957. Redwood General Tire is owned by Alpio Barbara.

As the Top Shop winner, Gatto’s Tires & Auto Service will receive a Coats APX90 tire changer, a $1,500 cash prize, airfare and hotel for two (2 nights/3 days) to the 2007 SEMA Show, a feature story on their business in the October issue of Tire Review, and a specially designed trophy to display in their store.

The three finalists will each receive a Coats 1250 tire/wheel balancer, a $500 cash prize, a feature story on their dealership in that same October issue, and a specially designed trophy.

To be considered for the recognition, entrants were nominated by a 300-word essay detailing why that shop should be considered. From the full group of entrants, judges selected 21 semi-finalists, which were then required to complete an entry form and provide details about their business, including their size, sales mix, merchandising techniques, customer service, training, achievement, and their role in their community. From there, six semi-finalists were chosen for final judging by an independent panel of judges.