coming to fruition.
This project started about nine years ago on a piece of paper in the office of Doug Schmit, owner of Northeast Nebraska Tire and Trailer, and he and Walt Aschoff just talked about it at that time.
“We put some things together one day, and then we all got busy and we talked about it again, put it off again,” Doug said.
Then finally, about two years ago, the two decided the time was right. They drew up a real hard plan.
“Then you’ve got to go through all the zoning things and the building permit and get it okayed with the state,” Doug said, “and then we moved forward.”
They poured the first footing for the building on June 20, 2023.
Doug explained that the reason for this plan is that his business had grown significantly. "We had no room to work on trailers, which is a big part of our business, and the automotive stuff takes more and more space – pickups are getting bigger, and we just didn’t have the room. Then we decided we needed to be able to work inside during the winter, when it’s 20 below – we’re all getting a little older.”
The two then approached Brian Lorenz of Lorenz Automotive about being a part of the business. At that time, Brian really didn’t want to become a partner.
Then Brian thought about it a little bit, and when he was approached again, he decided to sell the NAPA store. As things worked out, he won’t be working on vehicles — he will be in charge of the parts department at Northeast Nebraska Tire & Trailer.
Brian said his decision to sell the NAPA store was based on the fact that he had someone who was interested in buying.
“It’s one of those things where you’re getting to the point where you need to start thinking about it, and when the opportunity is there, you take it. You don’t wait or you might not have the opportunity.”
Some of the things Brian says he’s looking forward to are being in a new store, and there will hopefully be more inventory to work with.
He added that “I still like working on vehicles but it’s getting harder to work on them, so it’s going to be kind of nice not having that part of the job.”
“I think for me, probably the biggest challenge is going to be working for somebody else, when I haven’t had to for a long time,” he continued, “and learning some of the new inventory that we plan on having as far as the tire line and all the trailers and things like that, that they want me to take care of.”
As far as this changeover, Brian says it’s a nervous excitement. “I’m looking forward to this as a new chapter in my life, but it’s a little scary and it’s going to be something different.”
“He’s very knowledgeable, and this way he won’t have to do the physical labor,” Doug said about Brian.
“I think it’s going to work out good for the whole town,” Doug commented on the expanded business. “It’s going to be a great asset for the town.”
Doug will take care of the trailer part of the business and the overall running of the business.
Matt Severson will take care of the automotive side of things, and Ron Riley will take care of the heavy-duty truck side.
Emmett Hoppe will be in charge of the tire and trailer part of the business, and Brian Lorenz will take care of all of the parts for all departments.
Brian Koepke will do fuel management since the business will continue servicing bulk fuel customers.
Matt Frisch also works with Ron with the heavy-duty trucks, and there are a couple of part-time workers — Owen Severson, and Dominic Schmit comes home during the summer to help out, Doug said.
Doug added that, eventually, there will be someone to help Brian out in the parts department, and they will have to become a “second Brian.” But you can’t learn everything like that in a year, he added.
“You have to get him in there and then find the right guy that works with the public, and you just don’t ‘teach’ them that in a short time.”
There were some challenges in getting the project going, Doug commented. “You get one shot as far as the building design. You know, once it’s built, you can always say ‘I wish we would have done this or that.’ But we had one shot to build it and it turned CHANGES COMING FOR TIRE & TRAILER, NAPA out amazing.”
The official opening will probably be in about a month, he said. "The shop part is there. We're waiting on some office supplies to move the of - fice part over, and then as soon as we get hooked up with the NAPA stuff, we'll bring Brian over. So, it'll prob - ably be a month before everybody gets there." The business will include: trailer parts, trailer sales, tire sales and repair, automotive repair, heavy-duty truck repair, and a full line of parts for all departments. The business name will stay the same, Doug explained. The old build - ing will be leveled, and then that space will become the trailer lot.
As far as the old NAPA building, Doug said he don't know at this time what will be done with it. "There's been some things tossed around; we have some options, but at this time, I don't know." Doug commented, "It's a project we thank the community for, because they're the ones that support us. Without them, we wouldn't do it." "This is a project for the commu - nity," he added. "It'll change our town and will offer a lot of services for our community. That's what it's about."
