Clover Tire

Local Business Changes Hands: Clover Tire in La Harpe Sold as Reeds Retire

Andrew Postle, The Quill

After nearly five decades of serving the community, Clover Tire on the west side of La Harpe, has a new chapter ahead. Longtime owners Steve and Debbie Reed have sold the tire business as they prepare to step into well-deserved retirement. The couple, who have been the heart of the shop for years, expressed a mix of excitement and bittersweet feelings about the transition.

Steve Reed, now 66, reflected on what retirement might look like: “Oh, I guess just sitting on my front porch and taking it easy… I got an old car. I probably start taking my old car out and driving a lot more when I get to and go to some car shows.” For Debbie Reed, the focus will shift to family. “Me, it’s probably having more family time. Being grandma,” she said. She also acknowledged the emotional side of leaving: “We’ve had some very wonderful and loyal customers through the years and some good friends. Yeah, that part will be kind of hard to leave.”

The new owner is Nick Sutton, who already operates Mike’s Tire and Service in Bowling Green, MO. Sutton hopes to open another location between La Harpe and Bowling Green, ensuring continued access to quality tire services in the region. Importantly, Clover Tire will keep its name, and the shop’s two part-time and two full-time employees will stay on staff. Steve will remain involved for a few months to help the new team get established smoothly.

Debbie shared that one of her hopes when selling was finding the right successor. “The Realtor one time asked me what I would like to see when we started, and I said I would like some nice young couple to walk in the door and take over,” she recalled. “And that’s one of the important things to me, because there is a need here to stay busy, to leave it up and going.” The couple feels confident in Sutton’s approach and the continuity he’ll provide.

The business has deep roots in the area. Steve and his stepfather, Arlin Clover, founded Clover Tire in 1978, shortly after Steve graduated high school. They had a farm, and a couple of  semi-trucks that they decided to sell, cash-rented the land, and then ventured into tires. 

The shop started in the old Ford garage building on Main Street, later moved to a former “Corner Grocery” (also on Main), and eventually settled in its current location in the old Fred Gibb Chevrolet building. In May 2003, Steve officially took over full ownership when Arlin stepped away due to health issues. Over the decades, the Reeds built a reputation for reliability, serving a wide range of customers with tires and services for cars, light trucks, semis, and farm tractors. They even maintained two farm service trucks to support local agricultural needs.

The tire industry itself has evolved dramatically during their tenure. Debbie noted how stocking tires used to be simpler: “It used to be easier for me anyway, like we could order the tires, we stock them, and we’d have just about everything anybody could want in sizes. Like a standard truck tire was a 235/75R15 and now there are (tons of) sizes.” Steve added that vehicle manufacturers frequently change tire specifications: “They change a lot of stuff anymore… Used to be they’d have the same thing for quite a few years. But nowadays, you go a couple years and it’s going to have a whole different system, different set of tires on it, different sizes.” He pointed out the shift toward low-profile tires with minimal sidewall, a far cry from older designs.

Inventory management has also transformed with modern supply chains. “Now I don’t have to carry quite as much, because I get deliveries every day of the week, sometimes twice a day,” Steve explained. “We just don’t have to do the inventory anymore. This front end used to be stacked up… completely full.” Despite these changes, the shop’s commitment to the community remained constant.  Steve described it as a “pretty good run,” noting how many kids and grandkids grew up around the business. Debbie summed it up simply: “A lot of memories.”

As Steve adjusts to a new routine after decades of early mornings at the shop, he admitted it will take time: “Well, I’m sure it’s gonna take some getting used to because I’ve been getting up every morning coming here since I was 18… it’s been a long time.” The sale marks the end of an era for the Reeds but ensures Clover Tire continues to serve La Harpe and surrounding areas under dedicated new leadership.  The community wishes Steve and Debbie a happy, relaxing retirement filled with front-porch moments, car shows, and plenty of family time.