Arnold’s Auto Parts will celebrate 50 years in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: Dan DeCarlo, president and owner of Arnold’s Auto Parts, is pictured inside the store at 116 North Liberty St. His father opened the business at the site in 1968.
ALBION – An Albion business will celebrate 50 years in the community on Saturday with a car cruise-in that is expected to draw 100 classic cars.
Dan DeCarlo, president and owner of Arnold’s Auto Parts, wanted to celebrate the business’s milestone anniversary by welcoming classic cars. The 4 to 8 p.m. cruise-in will include a wine-tasting from Midnight Run Wine Cellar, food from the Masonic Lodge, and music from the band Black Jack, which will include a special guest appearance by Scott Lonnen, who works at Arnold’s.
The car show will be in the parking lot behind Five Star Bank, across the street from Arnold’s at 116 North Liberty St.
Arnold DeCarlo, Dan’s father, started the business in October 1968. Dan has been working at the business for 41 years, since he was 14.
“It’s nice to wait on people and try to help them,” he said. “We have a lot of good customers who are good people.”
Arnold’s Auto Parts became a NAPA Auto Parts dealer two years ago. Arnold’s also continues to sell ACDelco Auto Parts.
DeCarlo said the business has been growing since it became a NAPA Auto Parts two years ago. NAPA gives Arnold’s access to parts for farm machinery. NAPA also has parts for many old cars, which DeCarlo said are in increasing demand. He said more people are working on older cars and hot rods.
“YouTube has been a game-changer,” he said. “It allows people to do things they normally wouldn’t do. We’re seeing more people working on their own cars.”
Arnold’s continues to sell ACDelco auto parts, and is looking to expand its electronics inventory.
The business has 10 employees, with two on the road making deliveries to auto repair shops and farms between Medina and Hamlin.
The car show on Saturday follows a Christmas in July from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That event, planned by the Albion Merchants Association, includes sidewalk sales, raffles, a Christmas-themed “kiddie parade” at noon, and many other games and activities.
The day’s events start at 9:30 with a ribbon cutting for the new Santa mural at Waterman Park.
