'The decision has been made to lengthen our weekends': Northern Ireland family-run tyre business ends Saturday trading after 54 years
Tyre Safety Centre Cookstown ends Saturday trading after three generations, citing staff wellbeing and changing times, with the family paying tribute to long-serving staff and customers as the business evolves with its community
A Mid Ulster family business has marked the end of a long-standing tradition, as it steps back from Saturday trading after more than half a century serving its local community.
Tyre Safety Centre Cookstown, based on Dungannon Road, has announced it will now close at weekends — a significant change for a company where Saturdays have been part of working life for 54 years and three generations of the Simpson family.
Founded in 1971 by father and son Cecil and Alistair Simpson, the business has grown from modest beginnings into a well-established name in the Mid Ulster area, expanding tenfold and earning industry recognition for its customer service and workmanship.
But in a heartfelt message to customers last Saturday (April 25), Mark Simpson said the decision to ‘lengthen weekends’ had been made with health and wellbeing in mind — both for the family and their staff.
“My last ever Saturday opening the gates at TSC this morning,” he wrote.
“54 years and three generations of TSC always included a Saturday… starting at 4.30, then 1.30, then 12.00 in recent years. Society has constantly been a changing and now with staff and owners health and happiness in mind, the decision has been made to lengthen our weekends."
In the social media post Mark paid tribute to the people who helped build the business over the years: “54 years would never have happened without a great team, past and present, and I thank them all for their contributions.
"To our customers, wow... Thank you for your continued incredible support over the years, we hope that within our new opening hours we can continue to provide you with your tyre/ alloy wheel and car servicing solutions and will keep pushing at improving our service levels.”
While the move marks the end of an era, the business is not closing. Instead, Tyre Safety Centre will continue operating Monday to Friday, with the Simpson family looking ahead to the future while holding onto the legacy built over five decades.
Mark added: “For many in the area, the change signals more than an adjustment in opening hours — it reflects the evolution of a family business that has grown with its community, and is now choosing to protect the people behind it.
“Thanks again from me, dad and the Simpson family and I look forward to another number of years at TSC. Yours in rubber...”