Customizer expands location, services
Larry Moore, owner of Trucks and Moore, stands near the old Mulherin Lumber Company building that he bought.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
An expansion of services required an expansion of space for Trucks and Moore Accessory Center.
The store's owner, Larry Moore, purchased the recently vacated Mulherin Lumber Co. property next to his store at 247 Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. He sunk $1.5 million in the project for the property purchase and to renovate the site into a showroom and service center.
Creating a one-stop shop for automobile needs and customizing is Moore's ultimate goal.
"We wanted to be self-sufficient in everything," Moore said. "We have our own custom paint department, although we don't do paint and body work. We do all of our own window tinting. We have an electronics staff to install sound systems, televisions, or full-custom interiors. We don't want to have to out-source anything."
After the expansion is complete, Trucks and Moore also will offer preventive maintenance work, tires, wheels, brake work, oil changes, alignments and repairs.
Moore will be operate his current location and the new store next door. The new-space opening is set tentatively for March 1.
After it is completed, and including the current location, Moore will have more than 30,000 square feet of work space to run his operation. That includes a 6,000-square-foot showroom, a 4,500-square-foot warehouse and 22 car bays.
"Over the years, we've continually expanded what we offer as we've been able to afford to bring on more talent, employee-wise, and offer more services and products to the consumers," Moore said.
Using garage space provided by his father, Jim, Moore first went into business for himself in January 1996 with Rhino Linings of Augusta and had one part-time employee. He changed the name to Trucks and Moore when he opened his Bobby Jones Expressway location in January 1999. The purchase of the former Mulherin location took place January 2003. He now employs 26 people and expects to hire as many as 10 more once the renovation is complete.
"My grandfather was a merchant down in Waynesboro, and he said there is no trick to business," he said. "He said it's always going to be about a good product, with a fair price followed with good service. It's just the basics."