Trust, hard work, family values, and community connection: the "ingredients" that make a successful third-generation family business are simultaneously utterly simple and remarkably complex, much like a family recipe passed down through generations.
Since opening its doors in 1985, Combs Auto Service and Tire Center has built its reputation on fairness, trust, and neighborly service. Thankfully, these values continue to resonate with community members who return year after year.
Founder Bill Combs launched the shop in the mid-80s, running a fully handwritten, pre-computerized operation. Drawing on his experience as an accountant for the St. Louis Blues, Bill transformed his honest, detail-oriented work ethic into a thriving business that quickly became a go-to for Kirkwood residents. It was an era of handwritten job tickets, paper receipts, and printed labor manuals. Scott Combs (second-generation owner) was watching Ally McBeal on television, and his soon-to-be wife Wendy rocked a mullet. Anything was possible.
As the world changed, so did Combs Tire, in more ways than one. Bill’s son, Scott, joined the family business, first helping out on breaks from high school and college, and eventually purchasing the shop in 2015. The transition coincided with the dawn of the digital age, when the internet reshaped how small businesses operate. Scott embraced these changes, modernizing the shop while keeping its focus on customer service. Like his father, Scott wasn’t a mechanic by trade, but he carried forward Bill’s vision: that Combs should be a trusted resource for the community and a shared legacy for the family. Father and son worked alongside each other for more than twenty years, something Scott refuses to take for granted, especially after Bill’s recent passing.
“I consider myself lucky,” Scott reflected. “Not many people get that opportunity.”
Today, Scott is continuing the tradition with his eldest son, Cameron. Similar to Scott, Cameron never envisioned himself in the industry, yet all along, he was sharpening his interpersonal skills. Ultimately patient and kind, Cameron spends the majority of his time listening to and fostering relationships with both long-standing and new visitors. Learning from both Bill and Scott, and growing up in the online era, Cameron’s unique perspective is paramount to the inevitable evolution of the shop.
Of course, no story of Combs would be complete without the women who made the dream possible. Bill’s second wife, Sunny Combs, encouraged him to take the entrepreneurship leap back in 1985, even agreeing to a second mortgage on their home to get the business started. Wendy Combs, Scott’s wife and partner-in-crime, now works at the shop in a catch-all role. With her background in insurance, she handles paperwork, scheduling, hiring, parts runs, and even shuttling customers to and from their homes.
“I do everything Scott doesn’t want to do,” she joked. With her upbeat personality and quick wit, Wendy keeps things running smoothly with a smile.
Even if you aren’t familiar with Combs’ history, walking in feels like stepping into both a shop and a story. The walls are lined with local sports memorabilia, from Blues jerseys to Wendy’s St. Louis University Hall of Fame award in field hockey. A quarter still buys you a styrofoam cup of M&Ms, the parking lot sign keeps passersby smiling with silly tire puns, and the front desk is always staffed with friendly faces ready to help. After 40 years, Combs Auto Service and Tire Center isn’t just about cars. It's about community, connection, and a tradition of trust that keeps Kirkwood drivers coming back.
Just like a good set of tires, Combs has proven to be built to last. Trends may come and go, but Combs Tire is here for the long haul. Scott, Wendy, and Cameron remind us that the main ingredient in a thriving third-generation family business is family.
Father and son worked alongside each other for more than twenty years, something Scott cherishes, especially after Bill’s recent passing.