Flynn’s new site has ‘Panera Bread-like’ feel

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A regional company has debuted a new Mahoning Valley location.

Mercer, Pa.-based Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service has opened up shop at 7975 Market St., the space formerly occupied by Taylor Kia of Boardman.

“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for as many of our customers,” said Joe Flynn III, president of the centralized location.

The new facility carries top- selling tire brands and performs services such as spin balancing, tire rotations and wheel-alignment checks.

Though the company purchased the property from Taylor Kia in the spring for an undisclosed amount, it had to wait until the auto dealership moved in October to its new location across the street.

Taylor Kia moved because of a lack of space, but Flynn said the 13,000-square-foot facility was more than enough space for the company’s 18th retail location.

It’s bigger than Flynn’s typical outlet, which is usually about 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.

Its customer space has a “Panera Bread-like” feel, Flynn said, referring to the relaxed, casual style of the bakery-caf chain.

Because the building previously housed an automotive operation, Flynn said the transition was quick, taking less than 30 days.

“Taylor Kia kept the building in great condition,” he said.

It’s the company’s second Mahoning Valley retail location; the other is in Austintown.

Flynn’s, which was first established in 1964, previously had a retail-commercial operation on Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown, but that closed earlier this year. The commercial operation moved to Hubbard; the retail to the new Boardman location.

Flynn said all employees from the Youngstown location were retained.