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Wilde Auto Plus

“His dad said to him to keep some of the money to restock his store, but Adolph told him he already had it taken care of,” Wilde recalled. Ambitious young Adolph started his business on Echols Street, a few doors down from city hall.

“He started all kinds of products, one being tires,” Wilde said. “Old-timers told me they remember him mounting Model-T tires on the courthouse lawn,” he said. During World War II, he had a hard time finding products to sell, but he scraped and searched and found enough products to survive. After a few years, he purchased property on Buck Street where he operated his store until 1978.

That was the year Jim and his wife, Agnes (Adolph’s daughter), bought the store with a 10-year loan from Adolph and his wife, Josephine.

“The biggest problem we had was not enough parking in our downtown location,” Jim said. “After operating the store for a few years, I came up with a wild idea to relocate on the highway in 1984. My wife Agnes and I always discussed things before we made a decision.” Jim recalled that Agnes “has always been supportive but scared, just like me.”

“We visited with Adolph about our idea and what he thought about it. In a few words, he told us, ‘Put the numbers together and if they don’t scare y’all, do it,’” The Wildes moved into the new building in March of 1985—the best decision they could have made. And they got some recognition along the way from Western Auto.

A mid-1980s Western Auto publication, distributed nationwide, told the story of Jim and Agnes’ move to the highway and their subsequent success. Their story was offered as a model for how successful a small-town Western Auto could be. Caldwell, Texas was offered as an example.

Jim shared in that story that they had originally considered renovating the old store but determined a bolder move was needed.

Jim was quoted saying, “We are going to make it work no matter what it takes.” A follow-up story in a Western Auto publication in 1999 again tracked their progress as a model for other stores. Jim shared the value of market research, paying careful attention to market needs and customer service.

However, as the years passed, staying in business got harder as Western Auto ended, Jim said. “In 2003, we had to find new suppliers and products to remain in business,” Jim said. “Today, Jeff and Andrea (Jim and Agnes’ children) are running the business, and their goal is to make it to 2038, which would be 100 years in Caldwell.” Jim and Agnes wish them good luck, “but we probably won’t be here to celebrate with them,” he said.

Jim said theirs is a story of a loyal customer base. “We want to say thank you to Caldwell and the surrounding areas. Your support and trust in us were a big part of helping us be successful,” Jim said. Family members wear multiple hats, but their titles are: Jim as president, Agnes as secretary, Jeff as shop and store manager, and Andrea as office and store manager.

“Currently, we are a full-service center for auto repair and small engine repair. We are a dealer of Echo, Husqvarna, BadBoy mowers, and Exmark mowers,” Jim said. “We sell all home appliances from trusted brands such as Speed Queen, GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire. We also sell tires, hardware, plumbing supplies, and various automotive parts and accessories.”