Fletcher’s Auto and Tires opened in Indio in mid-May near the Home Depot and WinCo Foods in the retail area of North Jackson Street, district manager Tim Powers said.

David Carabba is the store’s manager.

Since its opening, the store has remained busy and sees an average of 25 to 30 customers daily for oil changes and tire services, Powers said.

“We are just really pleased with the way that we are servicing the community,” he said.

Fletcher’s Tire and Auto Services started 30 years ago as a family business of Phoenix resident Jerry Fletcher, Powers said.

It has roughly 30 repair centers throughout Arizona.

Three years ago, before the economic downturn, the company began planning its move to Indio.

And it has kept its commitment to be part of “Indio’s new town center,” Powers said.

Indio resident Floyd Wright Jr. brought in his Mercury Grand Prix recently to get four new tires, a lube job and an oil change.

“They are very efficient and it is very affordable here,” he said.

Powers said the quality of service Fletcher’s provides has contributed to the success, including the employees who are grateful to be off unemployment.

The Indio store hired nine employees, mostly through the Indio Workforce Development Center, Powers said.

Eight of the auto and tire service facility’s employees were unemployed.

Employee Juan Perez, 37, of Indio was down to his last month of unemployment checks.

He was laid off in May 2008 from a Goodyear business in La Quinta.

Perez said he is happy to have a job now.

“Well, I can now start paying my house payments and my bills on time again,” he said.

The Arizona-based company is interested in expanding to more stores throughout the state, but it is too early to do that, Powers said.

“We need this one to grow by providing a solid foundation first for this store,” he said. (Tire Review/Akron)