Located on Gilman at Sixth for over 60 years, the shop is now managed by two women, one of them being Don’s daughter.
BERKELEYSIDE – February 4, 2026
“Sorry, yesterday was the deadline for complaints.”
So reads the sign behind Angela Frizzi’s front desk at Don’s Tire Service. The cheeky wall placard is part of a collection amassed over Angela’s decade-plus behind the wheel of the beloved Gilman District tire and service center. And it hints at the wry wit that’s made Don’s a Berkeley customer favorite for more than 60 years.
The tradition originates with Angela’s father, wise-cracking Don. Originally from Pennsylvania, Don fell in love with California and its temperate climate while stationed at Mare Island in Vallejo as a Navy mechanic. After learning the tire business from their Uncle Angelo back east, Don and his brother Frank moved to Richmond and opened Frank’s Tire Shop in Berkeley in 1964.
The business quickly took off. Don and Frank prided themselves on getting the best prices on tires, buying in bulk to beat competitors’ prices, even on name brands. The pair expanded with additional shops in Richmond and Oakland, which allowed for even bigger volume discounts. But Don was always most committed to the Berkeley location. He appreciated routine, including his daily breakfast at Gilman Grill (sadly closed in 2024) and the banter with his loyal Berkeley customers.
“Family was always No. 1 to him,” Angela said. “He was funny as [expletive], and wanted to make people laugh.”
By 1993, Don and his wife, Linda, a former banker with Wells Fargo, were working on a plan to buy out Don’s brother and take over the Berkeley shop at 820 Gilman St. Linda became a 51% owner, making them more attractive as a vendor for the City of Berkeley, which sought to work with more women-owned businesses.
They renamed the shop Don’s, and the business became a family affair. Don and Linda made great business partners, and they taught their kids, Greg and Angela, everything they needed to know about cars. “I was only, like, 8 or 10 when I learned to change a tire alongside my dad,” Angela recalled.
Even though Angela loved art growing up and dreamed of one day working in special ed or opening her own daycare, she always helped the family with bookkeeping, payroll, inventory and “whatever else was needed.” When her dad died, Angela stepped up as CEO, and brought on Denise Pene, the wife of the shop’s repairman Rick Hart, as her assistant. Five years later Denise was promoted to general manager. It never mattered that she was a woman in the male-dominated field, Angela said. She knew the inventory and mechanical language better than anyone else, and fit in with the crew like family. ”
Today, the duo can almost always be found at the front desk, cracking jokes with their staff and customers. (On Yelp, 67 reviews mention “friendly”; 14 mention “funny.”) On one recent weekday morning, in between phone calls from customers, the pair were planning out their spray tan sessions ahead of a meet-up with the Independent Tire Dealers Group, or ITDG, in Cabo San Lucas. “We gotta look gooood,” she quipped.
ITDG bundles the buying power of its 1500-plus members to get significant volume discounts, Angela explained, which helps Don’s keep prices competitive with the big dogs. The shop offers a wide range of tires at different prices, as well as many under-car repairs. Don’s will also come to customers, with mobile tire repair and installation.
Some of Don’s biggest champions are its women customers. Being women-owned with a strong female presence up front, Don’s offers a welcome alternative to the boys’ club atmosphere of most tire and mechanic shops. “Women come here because they won’t feel like they get taken advantage of,” Angela said. “They appreciate that there’s women here at the front. They know we’re going to listen and that their issues are going to get addressed.”
Joining Angela and Denise up front most days are Angela’s sons, Trevor and Caleb, her nephew Angelo, and Caleb’s girlfriend, Josephine (“Jo-Jo”). Even Angela’s “granddog” frequently makes an appearance. Meanwhile, Angela’s sign collection continues to grow, offering irreverent witticisms like, “You don’t have to be crazy to work here. We will train you!”, and, “My level of sarcasm depends on your level of stupidity.”
Walking into Don’s feels a lot like going back in time to a small town where the staff are affable and customer-oriented, and the experience is about more than just tire rotation or repair. When asked if she would ever sell the shop, Angela was quick to respond: “Never.”
“If dad was still here, I know he would just be in awe to see his whole family working together and being able to provide a good living,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with being a blue collar worker. Some people kind of frown upon it, but this is exactly what he would have wanted to see for his family.”
WHAT NEXT
- Stop by Don’s Tires (820 Gilman St.) before a First Friday block party or save the date (Sunday April 26) to check out other businesses in the neighborhood during the annual Gilman District Street Fair.
- Share your favorite Berkeley auto shop with #DiscoveredinBekeley and tag @DiscoveredinBerkeley on Instagram.
- Visit the Discovered in Berkeley Stories page to find more stories about inspirational local businesses.
