Store zoning in on needs of customers
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 7, 2003
The design and ownership has changed, but the employees and location will be familiar to former patrons of the now-closed Denny's Champion Auto Store.
AutoZone, located at 103 W. Oakland Ave., opens Thursday with three veteran employees who have a combined 50 years of auto parts experience.
Jim Nowak, Tim Lee and Nate Crews worked at Denny's Champion Auto Store before owner Denny Stehr decided to lease the building to AutoZone, an auto parts chain based in Memphis, Tenn.
"I think we'll draw a lot of business from the old store because of the location," said Nowak, the Austin AutoZone store manager.
AutoZone stores have been popping up in Minnesota in the last few years. Several have opened in the Twin Cities and one recently opened in Albert Lea, in the old Denny's Champion Auto there. Stores also are planned for Rochester and Owatonna, Nowak said.
Stehr said he had been planning to close Denny's Champion Auto since last year to pursue other interests in the Twin Cities. He opened the Austin store in 1973 and his stores in Austin and Albert Lea closed in February.
Once AutoZone started renting the space, it revamped the outside and remodeled the inside of the 3,800-square foot building. Employees said the store offers more accessories and more in-stock merchandise.
It also offers a larger selection of what employees call "hard parts," items such as starters and alternators.
Lee and Nowak said the prices will be low and customers service will be a high priority.
"You gotta know what you're talking about to make sure you get the customer the right parts the first time," Nowak said.
AutoZone also offers a free loan-a-tool service. Customers working on a special project can choose from up to 60 specialty tools to borrow for free. Customers leave a deposit with the store and pick it back up when they return the tools.
The store tests alternators, starters, batteries and voltage regulators for free. The store also charges batteries for free.
Employees can special order items that are out of stock for customers. So far, the store receives shipments weekly.
AutoZone also uses a satellite system to broadcast information from store to store. With it, stores can put parts on hold at neighboring AutoZone stores for customers to pick up if they need a part right away, according to the AutoZone Web site.
Six full- and part-time employees work at the Austin store. It's open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
For more information call AutoZone at 433-1324.
Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com