In 1996, Michael and Marti Pearson with their two daughters watched the Upland grain mill’s demolition — the beginning of Upland Tire and Service now known as Upland Best-One.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” Marti said.
Michael, managing partner and founding member of Best-One Tire and Service of Upland, and Marti invite the community to celebrate the shop’s 30th anniversary.
The celebration will follow the Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 7, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. There will be two food trucks and ice cream. The Pearsons said Best-One will be open for tours, and door prizes will be given out.
The Pearsons are grateful. Without the community’s support, they couldn’t exist.
“So we want to make sure that we communicate: It's not about us,” Michael said. “It's about the relationship that we've had in our community and we hope to continue that.”
As changes have swept through Upland with downtown construction, new shops, university expansion and people coming and going — Upland Best-One has remained anchored in Upland.
“This milestone is an emotional one, thinking back to the sacrifices and hard work that’s taken place to get here,” Marti said. “However, I feel blessed to be part of the Upland community and humbled by the support it has given us."
The first several years were filled with long days and hard work, he said, as they formulated their business model to be sustainable in a small town. Their founder and partner, Paul Zurcher, taught Michael to “accept the urgency of accountability and the necessity of change.”
“The more time passes, the more that statement is so true to me,” Pearson said.
A longtime acquaintance to the Pearsons, Mike Manganello, said Upland Best-One has prospered because of the Pearsons’ integrity and competence. Manganello believes God has honored the Pearsons because of the way they’ve lived.
Manganello founded Literider Ministries and is a member of the board of directors. His ministry takes place directly behind Upland Best-One, overlapping with the GrayBarn and RedBarn. When Literider Ministries was just beginning, Manganello bought a double decker bus from Lafayette, Indiana. And one of his first mechanics was Michael Pearson in 1987.
After Pearson bought and developed the grain mill property, he sold the back lots to Manganello, enabling him to further his ministry.
Upland Best-One has made many impacts in the community on a business and economic level, Manganello said.
But more so, Manganello said, “the impact on Upland is actually Mike and Marti Pearson. Upland Tire’s just a part of it.”
The Pearsons only hope to continue, serving their community for many more years: students, faculty, staff and each customer who walks through their door.
The celebration is just as much about Upland Best-One as it is the Upland community.
“I have really enjoyed getting to know so many people from Taylor and the community,” Marti said, “and feel honored to have the privilege to serve for this length of time.”
