The Pilot News - TMT celebrates 25 years in Bremen

Tatich worked there for 4-½ years but had a desire to bring an independent service center and tire store to Bremen.
“There were gas stations and dealerships that did service, but there really wasn’t an independent service center and tire store,” he said.
Remembering back, at 22 years of age, “that is what we decided to do,” says Tatich. The “we” included his young bride-to-be Serena.
The business owner is quick to point out that the business wasn’t something he and his wife bought from someone else or inherited. It was started from scratch with hard work and long hours. This is a story he says he likes to relate to Bremen High School students he sometimes gives talks to.
"We have been through a lot of ups and downs and have weathered a lot of storms over the years, but we are stronger and better for it," he said.
It doesn’t hurt to have a strong Christian faith.
“The good Lord has given more to us than we can ever give back and we are very thankful for that," he said.
In February 1984, TMT started with just a few thousand dollars, some used tire equipment, 20 or so tires and a handful of tools.
“Definitely a far cry from the hundreds of thousand of dollars of sophisticated equipment and tire inventory of today’s store,” Tatich said.
“A new business in February of ’84 and a wedding in June of ‘84! Quite a busy time. We were maybe too young and naive to realize the undertaking we had signed up for” said Serena.
The Tatich’s lived on the modest income from Serena’s job as a teller at a local bank the first few years.
“We never took a salary for a couple of years. We used the money to reinvest and expand the business. Eventually we bought the building at 1455 West Plymouth St. we are now located in,” Mike said.
Twenty-five years later, TMT has come a long way. While many things have changed some have remained the same.
“We have always been in the same location and always strived to provide superior service and great tire prices," Mike said. "When we first opened there were not a lot of businesses on the west side of town, no McDonald’s, no Burger King. We were on a retail island of sorts."
In 1996 the Tatich’s purchased Radio Shack from the old Meister’s drug store. They had the Radio Shack for 10 years until it was sold to Klinge’s Ace Hardware.
"We wanted to get back to what we knew best, the automotive service business," Mike said.
In 2006, a branch of the automotive store was opened called the “restyling shop @ TMT,” Tatich said. “The restyling shop is a place where you can buy truck tool boxes, bed covers, step bars, hitches and custom tire and wheel packages. Jeep customizing, tuner car and performance work is all done at TMT. Whatever custom or personal accessory that you would want to add to a vehicle, we have it at competitive prices," Tatich said.
Serena and Mike are joined in their family business by their oldest son Tony.
“He has helped us branch into the restyling shop and knows what is hot. It is definitely a growing market,” said Tatich.
Restorations are also performed for those who are looking to spruce an older vehicle.
TMT also includes a tire center where customers can find any kind of tires they are in need of.
“We are very price competitive and are a wholesale dealer for The Tire Rack. A lot of times people think they should go to bigger tire stores for price and selection. We are locally owned with low overhead and reinvest in Bremen. We have worked very hard in partnering with several wholesale tire warehouses to provide just about any tire brand and style at very competitive prices," Tatich said.
While tires and restyling are very much a part of TMT, the main area of their business however has always been the service side of TMT.
“We are an A to Z service center. Our staff can work on anything that is on any car. No brand is foreign to us. You can come to the shop and get a tire repair, engine overhaul, brake job or an engine computer diagnosis. You name it,” said Tatich. “One thing that people need to realize is that the warranty on your new vehicle stays in effect when maintenance is performed at our store. A lot of times dealerships want you believe that they are the only ones that can work on your car, but that simply is not true.”
The staff includes five full-time and a few part-time employees and is headed by shop foreman Mike Clinger.
“Mike has been with us many years and is an ASE gold certified technician," Mike said. "All mechanics are required to be ASE certified at TMT and go through a vigorous training schedule on all makes and models of vehicles through the AC Delco training program. Our technicians take online automotive training seminars year -round and go to various classes at automotive colleges. Knowledge and training is key to our guys being able to work on all makes and models of cars and light trucks,” said Tatich
“Being affiliated with AC Delco allows us to be tied to a national chain of service centers and to be able to perform service to all kinds of vehicles,” he notes.
Community wise TMT has always been very active.
“Bremen has always been good to us and we try to help whenever we can. We like to give back to our community and give to organizations” said Tatich. TMT has been a regular sponsor of little league baseball, girls softball, soccer and many other groups. “Jim Meister of the old Meister Drugs once told me that there is not a better dollar you can spend in your business than sponsoring youth sports teams. We took that to heart and have always believed in that philosophy.”
Serena and Mike will celebrate 25 years in business with Saturday car shows all summer and specials throughout the year. "We kicked off the season with Terry McMillen’s top fuel dragster a couple of weeks ago and have a Jeep club, some nostalgia funny cars and a couple of other car clubs coming in. Also specials like our new car care club membership make automotive deals superb at TMT! "
In addition to the business milestone the Tatich’s will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in June. Mike and Serena live in Bremen with their children, Tony, Rachelle and Brock.