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LAPLACE — Firestone Complete Auto Care celebrated its grand re-opening in LaPlace on February 10 with special guests and a check presentation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana.

Located at 1605 W. Airline Highway, the tire and automotive service center was a fixture of the community for many years prior to sustaining severe damage from Hurricane Ida in August 2021. During the year-long closure, members of the St. John the Baptist Parish community flocked to surrounding Firestone locations, according to LaPlace store manager James LeBlanc.

“Our customer base trusts us. Since we’ve been out here, we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the community. A bunch of our customers actually tracked us down while we were displaced in other locations,” LeBlanc said. “I was at the Kenner location, a couple of our technicians were at the Hammond location, and another was at the Carrollton location. In Kenner, we were getting twice the amount of work because everyone that knew I was there from LaPlace was coming out to see us.”

LeBlanc said business has been great since the LaPlace store reopened in October 2022, more than a year after Hurricane Ida.

“There has been a very great, positive response from the community,” he said. “It almost feels busier. Everyone is still rebuilding, and the city isn’t 100% back to where it was before, but the business is here, and we are staying busy every day.”

Firestone Complete Auto Care is known for offering full-service care in addition to numerous complimentary services, including free brake inspections and alignment, battery, tire pressure and courtesy checks.

According to a spokesperson for the company, the reopened store has been re-designed to utilize the latest technologies, including digital displays providing real time service updates and equipment for quicker repairs.

Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony included special guests from Bridgestone Retail Operations, the River Region Chamber of Commerce, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana.

A $1,000 check presented during the grand re-opening ceremony added to the more than $20 million raised by the company nationwide as part of Bridgestone’s Driving Great Futures initiative. The donation supports the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Louisiana’s mission to provide a safe, productive environment for local children and teenagers during out-of-school hours.

Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, shared remarks during the celebratory event.

“We are thrilled to be able to once again serve the LaPlace community after the devastating damage caused across the region in 2021,” Ibrahim said. “Thanks to our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we also aim to make a difference in the lives of LaPlace area youth and families as we reestablish our presence as a trusted neighbor.”

In honor of the re-opening, the LaPlace store offered $70 off a set of four Bridgestone/Firestone tires and 20% off of any service February 10-11.

The LaPlace location’s hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.firestonecompleteautocare.com.