AutoZone rolling into Fort Wright

FORT WRIGHT – Fort Wright may be getting “into the zone” with AutoZone possibly setting up shop by April 2016.

On May 6, Fort Wright City Council heard first reading of a design plan for the proposed site at 3394 Madison Pike, where Saylor and Son, a commercial automotive repair facility, now operates.

This store is one of 150 new stores AutoZone will open in the next 12 months, AutoZone spokesperson Ray Pohlman said.

“We believe Fort Wright will be a great place for an AutoZone store based on the number of out-of-warranty vehicles registered,” Pohlman said. “The American fleet of 257 million cars and light trucks continues to age. The average age of a vehicle in the U.S. fleet is now 11 ½ years old. A lot of the work on these vehicles are done by individuals who like to do the work themselves. The rest of the repairs and maintenance are done by skilled and highly trained technicians in independent shops and garages.”

AutoZone is the leading retailer of automotive parts and accessories in the U.S. Founded in 1979, AutoZone has more than 5,200 stores across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. There are eight AutoZones in Northern Kentucky.

“I think AutoZone is a good fit for the site,” said Councilman Bernie Wessels.

Wessels and other council members did have concerns over customers working on their cars along the main thoroughfare.

AutoZone representative Jason Hal, with Prism Engineering, said AutoZone would be open to creating some kind of stipulation to prevent such activity.

“We’ve had a few sites with concerns over this, as well,” Hall said. “In those areas we’ve pushed that work back toward the side away from the main road and we put signage up.”

The council will vote to approve the design plan at the next meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the city building on Kyles Lane.

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