Quality through Experience since 1934

About Us

This is the story of how Rice Radiator came to be....

Fred Labombard a former employee of the Grey-Dort Car Company in the city of Chatham, along with  his brother Lou Labombard opened the Blue Front Garage in 1924. It was located on St.Clair Street in Chatham. In 1934 they moved one block and renamed the business Labombard's. It was at this location that the late Alex Rice operated Chatham's first Radiator repair business. In 1974, son Kipp took over the manager's position when his father retired. In 1981, Kipp`s son Randy joined the business and two years later son Jeff also joined. In 1991, Kipp purchased the radiator business from Labombard's. Along with his wife June and two sons, the business moved  to its current location on 7720 Queens Line, 200 yards west of the Bloomfield Road in the newly amalgamated Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Recently Kipp`s daughter Debbie has joined the family business, working in the front office.