More Than Just Tires
Barmore-Sellstrom Keeps Business In The Family
“We are truly blessed.”
Christopher Barmore said that phrase more than once as he referred to his company Barmore-Sellstrom.
Recently, he kept the business in the family by selling it to his son Dalton Barmore.
Christopher Barmore said by selling it to his son, the automotive repair and tire company will remain in the family, and owned by a fourth-generation Barmore.
“So it went from first generation, Elwood, to second generation, my dad Denny, third generation, me, and my son, Dalton, is fourth generation,” Chris Barmore said.
The business was first located at the site of the Spring Street parking ramp, and owned by United Refining Co, of Warren, Pa. Elwood “Red” Barmore who was the manager during the 1940s. In 1953, Elwood Barmore
And Warren Sellstrom partnered to acquire the business, and continue operating it at 1403 E. Second Street in Jamestown. In 1956, there was a fire, and in 1977 Dennis Barmore, Christopher’s father, and Richard Barmore purchased the business, and in 1995, Chris Barmore, Kenneth Crossley, and Robert Whitford purchased the business.
Whitford died in 2009, and Chris Barmore and Crossley recently retired, and Dalton along with his partner and long-time employee, Ryan Ecklund, took over the business.
Before Chris settled into his role he began in 1995, he went to Florida after college, and then came back to the area and worked different jobs, and “didn’t like any of them.”
“And then the opportunity was given to get in the family business, and I took it. It has been fantastic,” Chris Barmore said. “It (the business) put my three kids through college, paid for my divorce, and I’m still getting able to retire.”
For years, the community has embraced and welcomed the business.
“We have the greatest customers,” Chris Barmore said.
Dennis Barmore added that when he was in charge the business was built around customer loyalty.
“We have the best customer base of any business that you could ever have,” Dennis Barmore said about his time operating the business.
Chris Barmore said the business is more than just tires. Chris Barmore said it is a full automotive repair facility – cars, inspections, exhaust, alignments, and a very large commercial tire dealership which includes buses, over-the-road semi-trucks.
Dennis Barmore said that when his dad, Elwood Barmore owned the business, it was known for tire retreads.
“We were one of the biggest retreaders in Western New York,” Dennis Barmore said. “The retread, actually, is just as good as a new tire as long as the casing is good.”
The irony in the family transaction, Chris Barmore said, is his son Dalton took over the business at the same age as Chris did — 27.
Chris Barmore said a few years ago, he got sick with cancer, and the business happened to be getting very busy at the time. Chris said it was during COVID 19 that it was hard to find employees. It was then that Chris sat down with Dalton and had a heart-to-heart discussion with his son.
“I said ‘I need you to work for me a while — at least a year — so I can get back up on my feet.’ I said ‘I need you. I need you to work.’ He did. He put his life on hold for a year. (He) never questioned it. He just said ‘what time? I’ll be there.’ So he was able to do that, and once I got back and healed he resumed his law enforcement career,” Chris Barmore said.
And now that Chris Barmore was in the midst of retiring, he reached out to Dalton and told him about the opportunity to take over the family business.
“He decided to take the opportunity,” Chris Barmore said. “(I’m) so very blessed – just a great kid – never asked how long, he just said ‘I’ll be there.'”
Chris Barmore said what he will remember most about the business is the customers and of course his employees.
“I’d say the customers have been fantastic. But the interactions I’ve handled my employees throughout the years, I’ve really built a lot of relationships with that. I’ve been very blessed,” Chris Barmore said.
And Chris Barmore said that he recently learned that he will be a grandfather, as Dalton and his wife are expecting, and hopefully, Chris Barmore said, the business will move on to a fifth generation.