NAPA Auto Parts buys out Riebes

While NAPA Auto Parts and Riebes Auto Parts have been in business together for more than 20 years, NAPA recently purchased all of Riebes' shares. Bart Riebes, whose parents began the automotive supply store in Grass Valley when he was 7, said he is not retiring and customers can expect to see no changes, including keeping the Riebes name. Riebes owned and operated 22 locations throughout Northern California and began sharing his ownership of the company with NAPA in 2001. "I love the business," Riebes said. "We were at the place where we had done very well, extremely well, and we had a great track record. It's hard for a California regional company to compete on a national stage." Riebes said the company would benefit longer term because the new parent company, General Parts Company, is financially stable and has "tremendous strengths in negotiating." Through the buyout, all Riebes' legal, financial and human resource work was absorbed by NAPA. Riebes said in-store employees were offered a great new benefits package and pay scale. "That was the biggest motivator for me," Riebes said. "I knew our team would be better off, and they are better off." Riebes is staying on with NAPA and running the Riebe Group, which includes the 22 locations he previous ran. Riebes still owns a majority of the property on which the auto parts locations operate. "I didn't retire. I'm still running the group as I always have," he said. "I enjoy the business. We are there for customers should they need us. I think Riebes has always had a reputation of being customer centric and focused. We don't back down from helping a customer. We just help you out and get you on the road, and that won't change as long as I run it. NAPA is very customer centric, too, so there is not threat to that model." Riebes is headquartered at its Rocklin location. There are two Riebes locations in Auburn and one in Colfax. For more information, visit riebes.com.