Owner hopeful after 1st month

By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Terry Looney has run Marion Tire and Service for about a month but has high hopes for his first business.

While work was slow this past week, the flow of customers increased considerably this week, he said.

He spent several years at Cardie Oil as a mechanic. Owning a business presents new opportunities, his wife, Loretta, said.

“He’s been doing this kind of work since he was 15,” she said. “It was time to start making the money for himself instead of someone else.”

Having grown up in Marion, Terry’s ties to the community are helping him launch his venture.

“The customers I had at Cardie, if it wasn’t for them then I probably wouldn’t be doing this,” he said.

The Looneys now live midway between Marion and Florence on US-77, but Terry grew up close to where his business is on S. 3rd St. in Marion. That was just one more important connection, this time because it helped that Terry knew the area when purchasing the shop.

“I’ve lived in Marion my whole life; I’ve lived on this block my whole life,” he said. “I just know everybody.”

It was his family who convinced Terry to start the business. They now play an integral role in daily operations.

“He’s running the business, but it was a family effort for sure,” Loretta said.

She and their daughter-in-law work in the office, while their oldest and youngest sons help Terry in the shop.

Terry’s father was the one to find a tire machine and car lift for the business, and friends also have provided help where needed.

“When I say a group effort, it has been at least three generations as a group,” Loretta said.

The shop can handle most vehicle repairs, but there already are hopes to expand services down the road to include glass repair and fabrication.

“I’ve always done whatever anyone needed,” Terry said. “Whatever they needed, I just got it done.”