Galesburg auto parts store finds more visible location that will double its inventory

GALESBURG — A longtime Galesburg auto parts store will soon move to a new location that will nearly double its size, increase visibility and, its owner says, will provide a better shopping experience for customers.

The relocation will be short but significant for Napa Auto Parts, which will move about 800 feet from its current Dayton Street location to the former Dollar Tree store, 1430 N. Henderson St.

The new Napa store will go from 8,000 square feet at its current location to 14,000 square feet with the capacity to double its inventory on Henderson Street. The store has been gutted, remodeled and should be open for business later in June, according to Breck Loos, who independently owns 14 Napa stores across northwest Illinois — including the one in Galesburg. The facade of the store recently received a coat of Napa blue paint.

Starting Monday, a crew of 30 workers will be stock the new store with a combination of new merchandise and merchandise from the current store.

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New Galesburg Napa will look like a small warehouse

"Customers will see a store that looks like a big small warehouse," Loos said. "We gutted it all and got rid of the suspended ceiling, so it will be all open. And we'll have a nice open sales area in the front.

"There's really not any additional services, we're just adding more breadth to the inventory so we can try to become or a first-call supplier instead of our competition down the road."

Loos purchased the strip retail area that includes the former Dollar Tree, Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits and Edward Jones investment building from Joe Mangieri for $1.4 million in November 2021.

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A Sterling native, Loos opened his first Napa store in his hometown in 1995. He purchased the Galesburg Napa store in 1999 and runs all of his stores as family-owned business.

He also owns a warehouse in Princeton that serves as a convenient parts hub for his 14 Napa stores.

'Doubling the inventory is a big thing'

Loos said he's excited to offer a larger selection at the Galesburg store.

"Doubling the inventory is a big thing," Loos said. "That should really help us. Instead of telling a customer they'll have the part in a couple of days, we can tell them you can have it today.

"The majority of our business comes from professional mechanics, and when you can deliver a part the same day, it allows them to be more efficient."

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Loos said retail sales account for only about 25% of his overall sales, with 75% coming from professional installers, agricultural and heavy machinery customers and road building companies.

"We think our parts availability is far superior," Loos said. "Others are trying to take care of all the cars and trucks on the road.

"We also try to take care of the Gunther Construction type businesses, builders supply companies, the agriculture community. Anything that has a motor with belts and fluids and filters, regardless of whether it's a car, we're able to source those parts."

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Loos cited Galesburg/Abingdon store manager Jaime Pagan along with area sales manager Colton Weedman as key members of the local Napa operation. And he plans to transition his collection of Napa stores to his son Tyler Loos and son-in-law Tyler Holesinger within five to seven years.

"I was excited when I started my first Napa store in 1995, and I'm just as excited to open the new Galesburg store," Loos said. "There's a lot going on in the area, so there's a lot of positives in Galesburg."

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Napa Auto Parts finds new location in Galesburg, IL