Advance Auto Parts opens in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Doug Burdick, right, is the store manager of the new Advance Auto Parts that opened today at routes 98 and 31 intersection. Burdick is pictured with Ray Emerson, a retired chief deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department. Emerson is one of 10 employees working for Advance in Albion.

ALBION – A new auto parts store opened in Albion today at a prominent spot in the community.

Advance Auto Parts say the location at the routes 98 and 31 intersection is “perfect.” The site in a former Rite Aid is also bigger than most Advance stores and the extra room allows the store to be well stocked, said Doug Burdick, manager of the site.

The deep inventory means people shouldn’t have to wait for a part, whether they are buying it themselves or an auto repair shop that needs a part for a repair, Burdick said.

The store remodeled the former Rite Aid at the northeast corner of routes 98 and 31. The inflatable truck out front is part of the celebration on opening day.

Burdick has more than 20 years in the auto parts business. He was working as the assistant manager of Advance’s store in Lockport.

Advance has 10 employees working at Albion. Burdick said more than 60 people filled out applications for jobs at the store.

While the 10 employees stocked the store in the previous eight days, Burdick said five or six people stopped by daily, inquiring about a job.

When the company sought a building permit for the changes on the building it told the village it expected to spend $140,000 on interior changes and improvements at the former Rite Aid.

Advance has nearby sites in Brockport, Batavia and Lockport.

The Albion store will be open everyday. For more information, call the store at 589-2101.

Advance enters an Albion market that already had three auto parts stores with Arnold’s, Napa and Auto Zone.