Tony Brown had lived far from Sault Ste. Marie for decades, but when he walked into U.P. Tire Inc. last spring, he wasn’t just the founder’s son stopping by to say hello. He was returning to save the family business, like you’d see in a heartwarming holiday movie.

Brown had spent the past 25 years building a career in Toronto, most recently overseeing global hospitality and facilities operations for a large e-commerce company. But when his father, Charlie Brown, died in May 2023, just weeks after the company’s office manager unexpectedly passed away, the future of the tire shop his father founded in 1972 suddenly became uncertain.

“The business was going to fail,” Brown said. “My dad was gone, our office manager was gone, and my mom needed a lot of extra assistance. There really was no choice. This decision was born solely of duty and obligation.”

A Community Staple

U.P. Tire has been a fixture in Sault Ste. Marie for more than half a century, serving the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula.

Charlie Brown began by selling tires out of his truck before operating from a modest service station in town. By the mid-1980s, the business had grown enough to require a new building, one Tony helped design and operate.

Today, the shop provides full-service tire sales and repairs, serving everything from passenger vehicles to heavy trucks and the earthmovers working on the Soo Locks project.

Brown said stepping back into the business after so many years away meant rebuilding nearly everything from scratch. Key operational information, passwords, processes, and account access had been kept only in the heads of the two people who were suddenly gone.

“It’s been an uphill, bare-knuckle fight this past year,” he said. “We didn’t even have access to the company bank accounts for weeks. But piece by piece, we’ve rebuilt it.”

MRA Lent Support

During that transition, Brown leaned on a resource his father valued deeply: the Michigan Retailers Association. U.P. Tire has been an MRA member since 1985 and uses its merchant processing, group insurance, and workers’ compensation services.

“MRA brought continuity at a time when everything felt chaotic,” Brown said. “When I had questions about credit card processing or needed help understanding new systems, I knew I could call and get an answer. That’s what my dad appreciated, and it’s what has helped me move forward.”

Brown said competition for credit card processing has been aggressive, with outside companies calling nonstop. But the trust and support he receives from Michigan Retailers keeps him loyal.

“There’s comfort in knowing they’re in your corner,” he said.

The Legacy Continues

U.P. Tire’s commitment to community service stretches back decades, a priority Brown says he intends to strengthen. The business regularly supports agricultural groups, youth programs, and local events across the region. Brown also invests heavily in his employees, paying wages well above the local market rates and offering benefits rarely seen in small shops.

“This business has always been community-minded,” he said. “I’m trying to keep us relevant while honoring what my dad built, but utilizing my own experience and training to bring it into the 21st century.”

U.P. Tire’s service area spans the entire Eastern Upper Peninsula, reaching St. Ignace, Newberry and rural communities in between. The shop employs nine workers and remains one of the few tire service providers in the region capable of handling heavy equipment.

Despite the challenging year, Brown says he’s grateful to continue the family legacy.

“My dad started this 56 years ago, and the community supported him every step of the way,” he said. “Now it’s my turn to give that back.”