Our History
It’s 1955. John Palumbo is a 21 year old student attending Temple University. He’s majoring in Military Science with a secondary major in Dental Arts. The son of immigrant parents from Italy, John is a determined and self motivated young man with a solid work ethic. When he enters his sophomore year at Temple University, John enrolls and is accepted into the Temple University ROTC program. John starts looking for part time employment and finds an advertisement for a sales position at a Goodyear Tire Store in Philadelphia. John has never worked with tires before, but he’s never shied away from anything new.
During the interview the store manager sees “something” in that college kid and hires him on the spot. With the job secured at the 69th Street Upper Darby Goodyear Store, John gets to work.
Proving to be an excellent learner, John quickly climbs the ladder. Within his first year of employment, John becomes the store manager and the Philadelphia district’s go-to guy. Corporate sends him to evaluate and turn around poorly performing Goodyear Stores in the Philadelphia area. Within a few years he had “fixed” a handful of locations.
Establishing a New Business
John works with Goodyear corporate until 1971, when he and his family decide to take out a handshake loan. With the loan, they buy a dilapidated former gas station in Glasgow, DE that used to store old airplane parts. This building was abandoned years earlier and was located in the median of a mostly “locals only” highway.
In December of 1972, after major renovation,John Palumbo’s Car Care & Appliance Center opens its doors for the first time. John wasn’t relying on the few homes and businesses in the immediate area. He was betting his money on the surrounding towns and numerous housing developments in progress. John knew he could meet that need. He also knew that traffic on the run down U.S. Route 40 would flourish once again.
Fast forward over forty five years later, and John is still at his shop. You can find him in the back office and on the sales floor. His son, Steve, has grown up in the business. You’ll find them both enjoying a chat with customers while still getting the necessary work done.
Don’t be surprised if one of them offers to make you a fresh cup of coffee. Serving Generations of Veterans and their Families with the Very Best Service Naturally, the tire store and auto service center has grown tremendously since opening over four decades ago. Today, Palumbo’s Car Care Center Inc.is The state-of-the-art tire and auto service center in Glasgow, Delaware.
We offer complete automotive service for engine diagnostics, shock and strut replacement, brake service, engine tune-ups, radiator service, wheel alignments, and much more. All our automotive technicians are ASE Certified and we’re one of only two ASE BLUE SEAL CERTIFIED shops in Delaware.
Palumbo’s has you covered for tire service,also. We provide mounting and installation, computerized wheel balancing, tire rotation, and flat tire patch repair.
Veterans and active military receive a 10% discount on any non-discounted tire or service with valid ID presented.