C&M Auto Supply of Wadesboro celebrated its 40th year in business earlier this month.

Owner Mike McCormick and his employees held an appreciation event on Nov. 1 to celebrate.

McCormick opened the business with Charles Thomas after earlier serving as Thomas’ employee.

“Mr. Thomas ran a parts house and hired me as a part-time employee at age 16 in 1964,” McCormick said. “And then in 1976, we decided to go into business for ourself. We worked together, except for three years; when I got out of high school, I went to another company.”

Thomas retired in 1994, selling his portion of the business to McCormick, who is now the sole owner.

The store now has four full-time and one part-time employee, gradually growing.

“We probably operated for a year, him and myself,” McCormick said. “Then we hired a delivery boy; that was three. And for years, just the three of us, until the business grew to the point where now we have an outside salesman and two counter men, and I do most of the office work. The business has grown a lot over the years.”

The appreciation event drew about 300 customers, McCormick said. He served barbecue and anniversary cake to his guests. He said he had the same amount of attendees at the 35-year celebration. He has hosted these events for the business’ 30th, 35th and now 40th years.

McCormick said a lot of preparation goes into the event, but that it was a “great success.”

The store is located on U.S. Highway 74 next to Martin Furniture.

Contributed photo
From left: employees J.T. Hechler and Buck Morton, owner Mike McCormick and employee Bucky Cummings. Not present: employee Neal Sikes.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_CM-Auto-2016-staff-fz.jpgContributed photo
From left: employees J.T. Hechler and Buck Morton, owner Mike McCormick and employee Bucky Cummings. Not present: employee Neal Sikes.

Contributed photo
C&M Auto Supply celebrated its 40th year in business on Nov. 1.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_CM-Auto-2016-fz.jpgContributed photo
C&M Auto Supply celebrated its 40th year in business on Nov. 1.

Staff Reports