The nation’s third largest auto parts retailer, O’Reilly Auto Parts, is bringing up to 400 new jobs to Puyallup.
Those workers will be employed at a new auto parts distribution center the Springfield, Mo.-based company is setting up at 1602 Industrial Park Way.
The company operates more than 3,200 auto parts stores in 38 states. Among the company’s brands are Schuck’s Auto Supply, Checker Auto Parts, Kragen Auto Parts and Murray’s Discount Auto Stores. (These brands were owned by Calfornia-based CSK.)
“When we acquired CSK in July 2008,” said Ed Randall, O’Reilly’s director of property, “we knew we needed a distribution center in the Seattle area.
The company recently chose the vacant warehouse near Levee Road to house that distribution center.
O’Reilly is already advertising for distribution center supervisors, route drivers and material handlers for its Puyallup location. Job descriptions and applications are available on the O’Reilly Web site at www.oreillyauto.com.
O’Reilly was founded in 1957 by a father-son team in Springfield, Mo. The company has grown rapidly in the last decade through acquisition of rival auto parts chains.
It already has distribution centers in cities including Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Houston, Dallas, Little Rock, Nashville, Indianapolis and Detroit.
In the West, the company has distribution centers in Phoenix, Dixon, Calif., and Mendota Heights, Minn.
“In the current economy, it’s a credit to the Puyallup community that O’Reilly chose to make such a substantial investment of capital and jobs here,” said Puyallup City Manager Gary McLean.
“As we’ve done with other businesses, city staff is working closely with O’Reilly to get plans and inspections approved quickly so the company can stay on schedule and open by the end of the year,” he said.
Puyallup has had a run of good fortune in the economic development department in recent months despite the recession.
A French-owned high technology plastics company, Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, announced in February that it was moving to Puyallup from Seattle. It brings 115 jobs.
South Hill Mall earlier this year began a multi-million dollar renovation to celebrate its two decades in business in Puyallup, and Seattle real estate firm the Benaroya Companies bought a former microchip plant on South Hill and began a $45 million renovation to attract businesses.
John Gillie: 253-597-8663
john.gillie@thenewstribune.com
