Bend, Ore.-based Les Schwab Tire Centers has expanded into Colorado, opening its first five newly-built locations in the Denver metro area.

The first shop, located in Aurora, opened Sept. 21 and was used as a training store for the 60 or so employees hired to work the five locations. The remaining four locations are: Littleton, which opened Oct. 5; Denver, opened Oct. 15; and Highlands Ranch and Parker, which both opened Oct. 18.

Grand opening celebrations for the stores began Thursday and will run through Saturday, with free food, cake and soft drinks. On Saturday, the company is giving away Denver Nuggets tickets and allowing local high schools to sell tickets to on-site food trucks for fundraisers.

The company first announced it was expanding into Colorado in March. Les Schwab has 374 company-owned stores nationwide, mostly in the western U.S. The total number of Les Schwab stores is 440, with 6,660 employees.