Advanced Auto Parts opened its new store in Chesterton today at 801 Indian Boundary Road in the Pumpkin Patch planned unit development.

In a statement released Tuesday, company officials cited “market conditions, strong growth potential, and a large presence of do-it-yourself mechanics” as factors which prompted the expansion to the Chesterton location.

“The new store employs 12 team members who offer drivers a variety of free services, including expert advice, electrical system component testing, and battery and wiper blade installation,” said Evander Gerald, regional vice-president for Advance Auto.

Like every Advance Auto in the country, the Chesterton store serves as a community recycling center and accepts consumers‚ used oil and used vehicle batteries at no charge. “Every used battery or quart of oil we can keep out of landfills benefits our environment and our community,” Gerald said. “Since 1991, Advance Auto Parts has recycled more than 26 million gallons of used motor oil collected from its nationwide network of over 2,500 stores.”

In addition to providing thousands of parts in its in-store inventory—and providing access to more than 100,000 parts within 24 hours through its Part Delivered Quickly service—Advance Auto also has in-store how-to displays and the Advance Auto Parts Television Network to “help educate consumers on how to repair and replace various vehicle systems and parts. And the company’s website at www.advanceautoparts.com

 provides “step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting and repairing a variety of vehicle components.”

The company noted that it supports a variety of non-profit organizations at the corporate level, among them the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and the United Way, and that since 1994 Advance Auto has raised more than $9.3 million for JDRF.

Advance Auto, based in Roanoke, Va., is the second largest auto parts chain in the country, with more than 2,500 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Posted 8/5/2004