City of Fredericksburg Virginia Economic Development and Tourism AUGUST 2013 Little Tire Company helps improve Princess Anne Street gateway Michael & David Little, owners of Little Tire Company, say a city Façade Improvement Grant incentivized them to undertake a project that they had been thinking about doing to improve their location and “help clean up this end of town.” F. Raymond Little, Michael and David Little’s father, opened Little Tire Company in 1959 at 2415 Princess Anne St. The company has remained at that location for the past 54 years and The original Little Tire circa 1959. also expanded to two additional locations in the Fredericksburg area. The exterior renovation of the tire company’s original Princess Anne Street location was recommended in a recent façade improvement study comBefore the current renovation. Three bays added in 1969. missioned by (Continued) Department of Economic Development and Tourism ■ Fredericksburg, VA 540-372-1216 ■ [email protected] City of Fredericksburg Virginia Economic Development and Tourism AUGUST 2013 Renovation in progress 2013. the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority (EDA) in order to improve the appearance of one of the city’s main gateways. The EDA subsequently awarded a $10,000 grant to Little Tire toward their $45,000 façade improvement project. A portion of the cinder block building dates back to the 1930’s. A number of improvements have been done over the years. The most noticeable was in 1969 when the end 3 service bays were added, according to David Little. The current improvements include a stucco façade with a brick component, repair of a retaining wall along Progress Street and a renovation of the signs. “We are reusing the old ‘Little Tire Company’ metal, porcelain-coated letters that have been on the building since Dad opened the business in 1959. They’ve been cleaned and repainted,” David Little said. “That’s important to us.” For information on the EDA’s Façade Improvement Program contact Tony Williams, Assistant Director for Economic Development, 540-372-1216. Department of Economic Development and Tourism ■ Fredericksburg, VA 540-372-1216 ■ [email protected]