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The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
Through the years
Redwood General Tire
has been here for us
Valerie Harris
Special to the Spectrum
Alpio Barbara’s office at
General Tire in Redwood City
is adorned with a wall of golf
balls and two other walls of
plaques of honor. Instantly,
the read on Alpio shows his
deep commitment to everything
he tackles in life. The
walls show gratitude for
benevolence from the police
and fire departments, and a
number of community organizations.
Alpio was even a
police reservist.
Alpio Barbara (everyone calls
him, simply, “Alpio”) was born
in Malta, of Maltese immigrant
parents. When his parents
emigrated to the United States,
they moved to San Francisco.
Alpio was two years old. Alpio
lived in San Francisco for the next 12 years, before moving to San Mateo. There he
attended Aragon High School, then studied Administration of Justice at the College of
San Mateo. Alpio wanted to be a cop, until a knee injury thwarted that dream. He
moved to Redwood City in 1973.
Alpio started working for Al Howard of Howard Tire Company in 1969. He started
on the ground floor as a tire mechanic, then became an auto mechanic, was promoted
to assistant store manager, then warehouse manager, then general manager. When
Alpio tackles a job, he sticks with it.
In May of 1985, at the California State Tire Association trade show meeting, Alpio
chatted with Dave Redfern, whose father started General Tire in May of 1957. After
the trade show, Dave approached Alpio with hesitation, figuring Alpio planned to stay
put at Howard Tire. But after some discussion about future opportunities, Alpio took
Redfern up on his offer and moved to General Tire in 1985. “On my first day on the
job, a transformer blew and a fire started,” Alpio recounted. Luckily, everything since
has been a smooth undertaking. Alpio came in as a partner in General Tire, and when
Redfern retired three years ago, Alpio bought out the business and now owns it in its
entirety.
Sitting in his office, it becomes clear that the customer comes first. The store fields
customers’ questions at the front desk. The garage is humming with compressed air
wrenches and clanking with mechanics’ tools. The toolboxes shine and are absent of
grease smudges. The most remarkable aspect of the garage was the spotless floor.
With such a clean work environment, Alpio insures that the customers’ cars are
returned clean and smudge free.
“We offer a full-service garage. We do full automotive repair: tires, brakes, and everything
else. Denny and Carlos at the counter are there to answer questions such as: ‘Is
this the right tire?’ “What about my brakes?’ or ‘How long for a tune-up?’” Alpio states.
“Our customers are number one. We have been voted number one ever since they
started the number-one contests. But we really don’t need to see the results of the contests.
Our business is always on a steady climb.”
General Tire can give the customer great service because it re-mains a small inde
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