Lots of fathers would like to see their sons follow in their footsteps.
But Ervin Davis, owner of Ervin’s Tire, just didn’t see himself as a farmer.
“My father really wanted me to come back and work on the farm after high school,” Davis said. “But I just didn’t want to.”
Davis worked in retail management for about a year after graduation, but those four walls closed in on him “quick,” he said.
“I was used to being out in the open on the farm,” he said. “Even if I didn’t want to be a farmer. So, I knew Mr. Eden from the farm, because we got all of our equipment from him. At the time he had Eden Oil and Tire Co.”
Davis went to work for Eden in 1976, and bought the business in November 1979.
“I initially wanted to buy in as a third-partner, but they didn’t want to do that, and they didn’t see their children wanting to take over either,” Davis said.
For 35 years, Davis has remained at the same spot on North Brooks Street, right before drivers leave town to head toward Sumter on U.S. 521.
But later this summer he will move to a downtown location, 102 N. Brooks St.
“We were hoping to be open in early June, but it’s looking like July at this point,” Davis said. “There’s just a lot of work that goes into it. We’re pretty much doing everything ourselves.”
Davis said the building, which sits on property owned by Judy Gamble Hooks and family, is the only thing he and his sons or employees haven’t built.
“We’re doing the wiring, the concrete, all of that,” he said. “So it’s taking us a lot of time between running the business down here, and then trying to get everything going up there.”
Davis said his shop provides full-service automobile repairs.
“We can do an oil change or change a tire, or we can switch out an engine,” he said. “We can do it all.” He said he feels blessed with all the Lord has given him. He also serves as pastor of First Service Church in Manning. He and wife, Wendy, have four children together, and he has four from a previous marriage. He believes a few of his sons will eventually take over.
“It would take me from now until eternity to tell you the blessings that God has just poured out on me,” Davis said. “Having my own place hasn’t been without its hardships, but overall it’s been a wonderful journey.”
Ervin’s Tire is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information, call (803) 435-4949 or (803) 435-8516.
