Hughes Brothers
Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Driving toward downtown Wilmington, the Hughes Brothers building is the kind of place that catches your eye long before you notice what business is inside. The rounded corners, bright red-and-white tilework, and vintage Firestone signs give it the unmistakable look of a classic roadside service station from the golden age of the automobile. 01-08
Hughes Brothers has been serving Wilmington motorists since 1921 and moved into this handsome Art Deco building in 1935. Back then, Market Street was one of the city's busiest routes, and businesses competed for the attention of passing drivers with distinctive architecture as much as colorful signs. This building did both, and it still does.
Hughes Brothers
Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The showroom and service bays have welcomed generations of local drivers, making Hughes Brothers one of those businesses that has quietly become part of the community. While countless neighborhood garages and tire shops have faded away over the years, this one has continued doing business from the very same corner, earning recognition as North Carolina's oldest continuously operating tire dealership.
What makes the place so special is how little it has changed. The bold Firestone branding, the large "Hughes Bros. Inc." lettering across the front, and the streamlined styling have all survived while so many similar garages have disappeared or been remodeled beyond recognition. It doesn't take much imagination to picture a row of shiny new sedans pulling in for tires and service on a busy Saturday morning.
Hughes Brothers
Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Roadside isn't always about giant neon signs or quirky attractions. Sometimes it's an everyday business that's been doing things the same way for generations. Hughes Brothers is one of those places, and it's a reminder that even a neighborhood tire shop can become a landmark if it's given enough character. It's the sort of building that rewards slowing down for a second look, with details that become more interesting every time you pass by.
UPDATE: Hughes Brothers remains in business today, continuing a tradition that stretches back more than a century. The beautifully preserved Market Street building is still one of Wilmington's finest examples of classic roadside architecture and an enduring reminder of the city's automotive past. 08-26
B.F. Goodrich (Gone)
Milford, DE Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
The B.F. Goodrich sign along U.S. 113 in Milford was the kind of roadside marker that let drivers know they were approaching a trusted tire dealer. Before today's standardized dealerships, signs like this gave automotive businesses a little personality and became familiar landmarks for travelers heading toward Delaware's beaches.
The sign stood outside the longtime I.G. Burton property on Bay Road, where generations of motorists stopped for tires and service. Its simple design was all it needed. The bold B.F. Goodrich name could be spotted from a distance, making it a memorable part of the highway landscape.
UPDATE: Sometime before 2012, the original dealership was demolished and replaced by a Mercedes-Benz dealership. The sign likely disappeared along with the old building during the redevelopment. 08-26
Firestone (Gone)
Randleman, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Randleman, NC is home to this Firestone shop. This Firestone includes an unusual sign for not only retreads but for Firestone farm tires. This shop in walking distance of the Richard Petty museum. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 02-09
The Firestone shop in Randleman was the kind of place that served just about everyone, from local motorists to the farmers working the surrounding countryside. Its roadside sign was a little different than most Firestone dealers, proudly advertising not only tires but also "Retreads" and "Farm Tires," a reminder that this was a business built around the needs of rural North Carolina.
Unlike many dealership signs that promoted only the company name, this one told passing motorists exactly what was available. Those extra panels gave it a little more personality and reflected a time when retread tires and farm equipment were an important part of many neighborhood tire shops.
UPDATE: The Firestone store has since closed, around 2014 and the building has been repurposed. The distinctive roadside sign disappeared with the business. 08-26
Hughes Brothers
Hughes Brothers
Hughes Brothers
B.F. Goodrich (Gone)
Firestone (Gone)
