Hughes Brothers Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss The Hughes Brothers building makes quite an introduction along Market Street in Wilmington. Rounded corners, red-and-white tilework, and vintage Firestone branding give it the unmistakable appearance of a streamlined automotive business. The architecture deserves as much attention as the signs—a good reminder that a tire shop could advertise through its building, too. 01-08 Founded in 1921, Hughes Brothers moved into this Art Deco location in 1935. The showroom and service bays have accommodated generations of Wilmington motorists while retaining the details that make the property recognizable. Large “Hughes Bros. Inc.” lettering and the Firestone signs reinforce an identity established long before standardized service-center designs became commonplace. UPDATE: Hughes Brothers remains in business, continuing more than a century of service to Wilmington drivers. Its Market Street building retains the distinctive styling that made it a roadside landmark. Good to see a working automotive property preserving its character while still doing the job it was built for. 08-26   Hughes Brothers Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss Hughes Brothers Wilmington, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

B.F. Goodrich (Gone)
Milford, DE
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

The B.F. Goodrich sign in Milford supplied a familiar name to motorists traveling along U.S. 113. Its bold lettering made the tire business easy to recognize without an elaborate illustration or animated display. Sometimes a straightforward roadside marker became memorable simply by standing in the same place for years.

The sign was associated with the longtime I.G. Burton property on Bay Road, where automotive sales and service formed part of the highway’s commercial landscape. For residents and travelers heading toward Delaware’s beaches, it advertised a practical stop for tires and related work. The display reflected an era when individual automotive properties often carried several recognizable product names.

UPDATE: The older dealership property was reportedly demolished and redeveloped before 2012, with a Mercedes-Benz dealership taking its place. The B.F. Goodrich sign is no longer known to survive at the site, although its exact removal date has not been established. 08-26

Firestone (Gone)
Randleman, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Randleman, NC is home to this Firestone shop. This Firestone includes an unusual sign for not only retreads but for Firestone farm tires. This shop in walking distance of the Richard Petty museum. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 02-09

Those additional words told a story about the customers the shop served. Retreading extended the working life of suitable tires, while farm tires addressed equipment needs beyond the family automobile. Rather than displaying only a national brand, the sign explained the local business’s specialties and gave it an identity of its own.

UPDATE: The Firestone operation reportedly closed around 2014, and the building has been repurposed. Its distinctive roadside sign has been removed. The extra panels survive in photographs as a reminder of a tire shop serving both highway traffic and the agricultural community nearby. 08-26