When Clay Dooley borrowed $500 from the old Corn Belt Bank, the rubber met the road.
Clay Dooley Inc. opened as a tire business on July 4, 1917, in the 400 block of West Washington Street. Today, Clay Dooley has two stores and offers full-service auto work including engine tune-ups, transmissions, air conditioning, brakes, mufflers, and shocks.
And yes, tires.
The locally owned business has no trouble competing with bigbox or chain stores. “I guess that’s because of the service,” said Brian Trower, whose father Vern worked hand-in-glove with Dooley. “Customer service and customer relations, and knowing what we’re selling.”
Brian and three siblings - Dave, Ruth and Steve – co-own the business, each with more than 25 years experience.
But that’s today. The longevity of Clay Dooley Inc. rests squarely with its founder, staff and service.
Dooley started handling Goodyear in the early 1940s, when farmers converted from steel tires to rubber. During World War II, when rubber was scarce, the business handled whatever brand it could get, and Dooley had about five, including Denman, Diamond and Gates. The war years also brought an expansion into appliances to make up for the lack of tire business. Appliances were part of the store until 1986.
From its West Washington location, the business moved to 210-212 W. Front St. in 1928. It was there when Vernon Trower joined the staff in 1948. He’d had a summer job at East Bay Camp at Lake Bloomington and was looking for a full-time job. A friend of a friend took him into Clay Dooley Inc., where he went to work in the back shop.
One day, Dooley brought Trower into the office and asked if he knew how to type. “Yes,” replied Trower, who took on bookkeeping responsibilities before becoming a partner in the 1960s.
The growing business moved to 210-216 E. Grove St. in February 1962, staying there until 1986 when it moved to its current location at 307 E. Grove St.
The second location on East Vernon Avenue had opened a year earlier to meet a developing market, and both stores added engine tune-ups and work on transmissions, air conditioning, brakes, mufflers, and shocks.
And still have tires.
307 E. Grove St., Bloomington; 309-828-5037
Open 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
1507 E. Vernon Ave., Bloomington; 309-662-2886
Open 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.
