"Sorry, yesterday was the deadline for complaints. So reads the sign behind Angela Frizzi's front desk at Don's Tire Service. The cheeky wall placard is part of a collection amassed over Angela's decade-plus behind the wheel of the beloved Gilman District tire and service center. And it hints at the wry wit that's made Don's a Berkeley customer favorite for more than 60 years."
"The tradition originates with Angela's father, wise-cracking Don. Originally from Pennsylvania, Don fell in love with California and its temperate climate while stationed at Mare Island in Vallejo as a Navy mechanic. After learning the tire business from their Uncle Angelo back east, Don and his brother Frank moved to Richmond and opened Frank's Tire Shop in Berkeley in 1964."
"By 1993, Don and his wife, Linda, a former banker with Wells Fargo, were working on a plan to buy out Don's brother and take over the Berkeley shop at 820 Gilman St. Linda became a 51% owner, making them more attractive as a vendor for the City of Berkeley, which sought to work with more women-owned businesses. They renamed the shop Don's, and the business became a family affair."
Don's Tire Service on Gilman Street in Berkeley has operated as a family business since 1964, now spanning three generations. The shop originated when brothers Don and Frank opened Frank's Tire Shop after learning the trade from Uncle Angelo and benefited from bulk buying and expanded locations to secure lower prices. Don prioritized the Berkeley location, daily routines, and friendly banter with customers. By 1993 Don and his wife Linda purchased the Berkeley shop, with Linda becoming a majority owner to qualify as a women-owned vendor. Angela Frizzi now manages the shop, maintaining its wit and community loyalty.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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