Oct. 8—FRACKVILLE — Local business personalities gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of NAPA Auto Parts in West Mahanoy Twp.

The store on 208 S. Green St. is the relocated site of the former NAPA Auto Parts in Mahanoy City.

"In 2019, the owners of Mahanoy City Auto Parts — a locally owned and operated NAPA Auto Parts store — began to research the possibility of relocating the business to the Frackville area," said Robert S. Carl Jr., president and CEO of the Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce. "They believed it would be a way for them to better serve their existing customers and also expand their customer base."

After exploring several options, the owners reached an agreement with the nearby Altamont Fire Company, 209 S. Green St., to lease the store on their property — a decision that was a "win-win" for both parties, Carl said.

Ground was broken on the site in spring 2021, and the store opened for business on Oct. 25.

Jay Woodford, managing partner and co-owner of the store, thanked the members of Altamont Fire Company for their hand in constructing the new NAPA building.

"It's a great location for us," he said, "and it's a consistent revenue stream for them to help them provide fire protection to the community."

With nearly 200 stores in Pennsylvania, NAPA offers an expansive catalog of over 500,000 items, including automotive replacement parts, accessories and tools.

"We'd like to thank the customers — both old and new, the professionals and the do-it-yourselfers — for supporting us and allowing us to provide the best service in the area," Woodford said.

Also on hand for the ribbon-cutting were state Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp.; Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman Barron L. "Boots" Hetherington and Commissioner Gary J. Hess; Tom Gerhard, deputy district director for U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, Dallas; and Cynthia Mensch, director of the Alvernia University Schuylkill campus.

Hetherington, a full-time farmer since 1980, cited the importance of auto delivery services for agricultural workers like himself.

"It's very special to have these folks here," he said. "They do a great job ... You walk in my shop, there's NAPA oil, there's NAPA chain lube, there's NAPA connectors, there's NAPA light bulbs. You name it, we've got it."

Carl said that many elected officials in the county have worked for a family business at some point in their lives and, as such, appreciate "what it takes for a small business — or any business, any nonprofit — to survive."

"We have to appreciate that running a business, opening and operating a business, is not easy," he said. "And therefore, we need to celebrate when people take that risk, employ people and do a great job servicing their customers."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085