National tire store coming to Merrillville

A tire store is looking to move into the former Merrillville Fireplace and Patio location at 8200 Louisiana St.

Belle Tire, a chain with 125 stores, received special-exception approval Oct. 24 from the Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals for tire sales and service.

According to Belle Tire representative Christopher Enright, the store will have 10 bays offering such repair services as shocks and alignment and also will sell tires and auto parts.

It will employ 10 to 15 full-time workers.

Enright said there would be a visual buffer between the shop and the adjacent hotel.

“There’s a 13- to 14-foot break between us and the hotel. We’ll put landscaping there,” he said.

Council member Shawn Pettit, D-6th, told Enright the company would have to install a security camera under a new town ordinance.

In other matters, Brian Dilosa was given special exception approval to have a church ministry, the Truth Seekers Ministry, in a suite at 1205 W. Lincoln Highway.

Zoning director Sheila Shine said another church was previously located in the 2,200- square -foot space, located between an Arthur Murray dance school and a day care center.

Dilosa said the church has about 50 members who would meet at the site on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays only.