CSK Auto

Last updated
CSK Auto, Inc.
Founded1992;31 years ago (1992)
DefunctApril 1, 2008;15 years ago (2008-04-01) (brands phased out and eliminated within 3 years of purchase)
FateAcquired by O'Reilly Auto Parts
Headquarters Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Website Archive of CSK Auto corporate site at the Wayback Machine (archived July 27, 2008)

CSK Auto, Inc. was a specialty retailer of automotive parts and accessories in the western United States. CSK Auto became a publicly traded company in March 1998, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. It was acquired in 2008 by O'Reilly Automotive. [1]

Contents

Operations

As of January 29, 2006, CSK operated 1,273 stores in 22 states spanning from Hawaii to Ohio, with principal concentration of stores in the Western United States. CSK operated its stores under four brand names:

In the mid-2000s, CSK operated five value concept retail stores under the Pay N Save brand name in and around Phoenix, Arizona. These stores sold primarily tools, hardware, sporting goods, housewares and other household goods, and seasonal items. To try and increase the tool business CSK built six stores that combined both auto parts and tools in Michigan, Colorado, Washington, and Arizona. The company ceased operations of the Pay N Save stores on August 26, 2007.

CSK sponsored major league baseball in major markets throughout its trade areas, [2] the 2Xtreme Racing monster truck team and the funny car driven by Del Worsham in the National Hot Rod Association. CSK was designated the Official Auto Parts Store of the NHRA. [3] [4]

CSK served both the do-it-yourself ("DIY") and the commercial installer, or do-it-for-me ("DIFM"), customer. The DIY market, which comprises customers who typically repair and maintain vehicles themselves, was the foundation of the business. The DIFM market comprised auto repair professionals, fleet owners, governments and municipalities.

History

CSK Auto experienced growth through a combination of acquisitions and a program of store construction and expansion. [5] In 1997, CSK acquired 81 Trak Auto stores in Southern California, converting them to the Kragen name and product mix. [6] [7] This led to an extremely productive year in 1998, as annual sales broke the $1-billion barrier for the first time, and the company opened, expanded, or relocated a total of 130 more stores.

In June 1999, CSK added 86 more Checker stores in the Northern Plains states by acquiring the Big Wheel/Rossi Auto Parts chain, and in October of that year CSK completed its acquisition of 194 Al's and Grand Auto Supply stores in Washington, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska, [8] [9] [10] solidifying its position as a retailer of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories in the western United States. To strengthen its position in the Northern Plains states, in April 2000, CSK purchased All-Car Distributors, operators of 21 stores in Wisconsin and one in Michigan. [11] [12] These stores operated under the Checker banner.

On December 19, 2005, CSK announced it had completed the purchase of Murray's, Inc. and its subsidiary, Murray's Discount Auto Stores. The 110 Murray's automotive-part and accessory retail stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana retained the Murray's name and operating model.

On April 1, 2008, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. signed a deal to acquire all of CSK's common stock for approximately one billion dollars, including $500 million of debt. [1] Starting in 2009, O'Reilly gradually rebranded Checker Auto Parts, Schucks Auto Supply, and Kragen Auto Parts stores as O'Reilly Auto Parts stores during a multi-year process that was finally completed in 2011. [13]

On March 5, 2009 the SEC filed a civil injunction against 4 former members of CSK Auto. The former members were charged with accounting fraud for the years of 2002, 2003, and 2004. [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paccar</span> American commercial vehicles and heavy equipment manufacturing company

Paccar Inc is an American Fortune 500 company and counts among the largest manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the world, and has substantial manufacturing in light and medium vehicles through its various subsidiaries. It was originally founded as the Seattle Car Manufacturing Company in 1905, primarily producing railroad equipment. In the 21st century, Paccar primarily manufactures trucks and heavy equipment.

The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, equipment, and accessories, after the sale of the automobile by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to the consumer. The parts, accessories, etc. for sale may or may not be manufactured by the OEM. According to a report by the International Trade Administration in the US Department of Commerce, "Aftermarket parts are divided into two categories: replacement parts and accessories. Replacement parts are automotive parts built or remanufactured to replace OE parts as they become worn or damaged. Accessories are parts made for comfort, convenience, performance, safety, or customization, and are designed for add-on after the original sale of the motor vehicle."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AutoZone</span> Automotive Parts Company

AutoZone, Inc. is an American retailer of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, the largest in the United States. Founded in 1979, AutoZone has 7,014 stores across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the US Virgin Islands. The company is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pep Boys</span> American automotive aftermarket service chain

Pep Boys is an American automotive aftermarket service chain. Originally named Pep Auto Supply, the company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921 by Emanuel "Manny" Rosenfeld, Maurice "Moe" Strauss, W. Graham "Jack" Jackson, and Moe Radavitz. Pep Boys is headquartered in the Philadelphia suburb of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Auto</span> Former auto parts retail chain in US

Western Auto Supply Company—known more widely as Western Auto—was a specialty retail chain of stores that supplied automobile parts and accessories. It operated approximately 1200 stores across the United States. It was started in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri, by George Pepperdine and Don Abnor Davis. Pepperdine later founded Pepperdine University. Western Auto was bought by Beneficial Corporation in 1961; Western Auto's management led a leveraged buyout in 1985, leading three years later to a sale to Sears. Sears sold most of the company to Advance Auto Parts in 1998, and by 2003, the resulting merger had led to the end of the Western Auto brand and its product distribution network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAPA Auto Parts</span> American automotive retailers cooperative

The National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA), also known as NAPA Auto Parts, founded in 1925, is an American retailers' cooperative distributing automotive replacement parts, accessories and service items throughout North America.

Pay 'n Save was a retail company founded by Monte Lafayette Bean in Seattle, Washington, in 1940. Over the years, Pay 'n Save was the leading drugstore chain in Washington and was the owner of several Washington-based retailers, including Lamonts and Ernst. A 1984 sale of the company to The Trump Group and a 1986 attempt to transform the retailer into a bargain-basement merchandiser resulted in a loss of nearly $50 million. By 1988, Pay 'n Save was sold to Thrifty Corporation, who later sold the stores to PayLess Drug, who retired the Pay 'n Save name. As a result, most of the retailer's divisions were spun off as separate companies or shuttered. As of 2023, Pay 'n Save's membership discount chain, Bi-Mart, is the sole surviving division of the company.

Trak Auto Corporation was an American retail chain specializing in automotive parts and accessories based in Landover, Maryland. Founded by Robert Haft in 1979, at its peak in 1993 it operated 333 stores around the United States under the Trak Auto, Super Trak, and Super Trak Warehouse concepts. A declining market, stiff competition, and management problems led to a steep decline and bankruptcy, with its remaining stores acquired by and converted to Advance Auto Parts in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genuine Parts Company</span> Auto/industrial/electronic parts

Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is an American service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products and electrical/electronic materials. GPC serves numerous customers from more than 2,600 operations around the world, and has approximately 48,000 employees. It owns the NAPA Auto Parts brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carquest</span> American automotive parts chain

Carquest Corporation is an American automotive parts distribution network that is currently owned and operated by Advance Auto Parts via independent retailers associated with the network. As of October 4, 2014 Advance operated 5,305 stores, 109 Worldpac branches. Advance Auto Parts and Carquest Auto Parts employs approximately 75,000 employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gamble-Skogmo</span>

Gamble-Skogmo Inc. was a conglomerate of retail chains and other businesses that was headquartered in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Business operated or franchised by Gamble-Skogmo included Gambles hardware and auto supply stores, Woman's World and Mode O'Day clothing stores, J.M. McDonald department stores, Leath Furniture stores, Tempo and Buckeye Mart Discount Stores, Howard's Brandiscount Department Stores, Rasco Variety Stores, Sarco Outlet Stores, Toy World, Rasco-Tempo, Red Owl Grocery, Snyder Drug and the Aldens mail-order company. In Canada, retail operations consisted of Macleods Hardware, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Stedmans Department Stores, based in Toronto, Ontario. Gamble-Skogmo carried a line of home appliances, including radios, televisions, refrigerators, and freezers, under the Coronado brand name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'Reilly Auto Parts</span> American automotive parts company

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. is an American auto parts retailer that provides automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories to professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers. Founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, the company operates more than 5,600 stores in 47 states and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advance Auto Parts</span> American auto parts retailer

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is an American automotive aftermarket parts provider. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, it serves both professional installer and do it yourself (DIY) customers. As of July 13, 2019, Advance operated 4,912 stores and 150 Worldpac branches in the United States and Canada. The Company also serves 1,250 independently owned Carquest-branded stores in the U.S., Mexico, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and British Virgin Islands.

Chief Auto Parts was a United States-based auto parts store chain that had stores located in the states of Tennessee, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Arkansas and California. Chief was founded in 1955 in Norwalk, California by Vern Johnson and Lorin Tuthill. The company grew to 119 stores when it was sold to Southland in 1979. After passing through several different owners during the next two decades, the company grew to over 500 stores before it was sold to AutoZone in 1998.

Kurt Johnson is a professional American drag racing driver. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. He used to compete in the NHRA’s POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto Club Raceway at Pomona</span>

The Pomona Raceway, is a racing facility located in Pomona, California that features a quarter-mile dragstrip. Since its opening in 1961, the dragstrip has hosted the NHRA's Winternationals event – the traditional season opener – and since 2021, the season's last race, the NHRA Finals. These two events have contributed to its becoming perhaps one of the most famous dragstrips in North America. The facility has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators, and it is one of the few dragstrips in the USA that is operated directly by the NHRA. This dragstrip has also gone by the nickname of The Fairplex, in reference to its location at the Fairplex, formerly called the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.

JEGS High Performance is the second largest mail order company of automotive equipment in the United States. It sells performance auto parts, aftermarket accessories, tools, and race apparel. JEGS was founded by Jeg Coughlin Sr. in 1960 as a small speed shop. Since its inception, the business has remained family owned and operated. Over 55 years, JEGS has expanded to include a 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) warehouse, two mail order locations, retail store & Team JEGS Race Team. The company has approximately 350 employees.

Del Worsham is an American NHRA Funny car driver who began his professional career as a driver in Pomona, California, in 1990. Worsham drives a Lucas Oil sponsored car Worsham Racing, a family team. Through the first five races of the 2011 season, he has amassed 33 career victories, eight in the Top Fuel Series and 25 in the Funny Car Series. In 1991, Worsham became the youngest driver to win a Funny Car event and went on to win the NHRA Rookie of the Year. His best finish in the Point Standings first came in 2011 when he won the NHRA Full Throttle Championship in Top Fuel. In 2015, Worsham won the NHRA Mello Yello Championship in Funny Car. He became the third driver to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, joining Kenny Bernstein and Gary Scelzi in this category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive part retailer</span> Type of retail business

An automotive part retailer is a retail business that sells automotive parts and related accessories to both consumers and professional repair shops, through physical stores and websites. Some automotive parts retailers also offer customer support and services related to automotive maintenance and repair.

References

  1. 1 2 Fineman, Josh (April 1, 2008). "O'Reilly Automotive to Buy CSK Auto for $528 Million". Bloomberg . Archived from the original on November 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ "CSK Auto Offers 'Ultimate Baseball Road Trip'". Business Wire (Press release). June 25, 2007 – via The Free Library.
  3. ↑ "NHRA sponsors". Archived from the original on 1999-08-24. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  4. ↑ "NHRA sponsors". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  5. ↑ "Checker Auto to be bought by Schuck's". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 2, 1986. p. A13.
  6. ↑ "Trak Auto to Sell 80 California Stores". Los Angeles Times . October 8, 1997.
  7. ↑ "CSK buys Trak Auto's So. Calif. stores". Phoenix Business Journal . December 10, 1997.
  8. ↑ "CSK Auto To Buy Paccar's Parts Subsidiary". The New York Times . August 24, 1999.
  9. ↑ "CSK Auto Corporation to Acquire Grand Auto Supply and Al's Auto Supply". The Auto Channel . August 23, 1999.
  10. ↑ Lane, Polly (August 23, 1999). "Eastside Business -- Paccar To Sell Auto-Parts Unit, Focus On Trucks". The Seattle Times .
  11. ↑ "CSK Auto Corporation to Acquire All-Car Distributors, Inc". The Auto Channel . March 13, 2000.
  12. ↑ "CSK Auto Corporation to Acquire All-Car Distributors, Inc" (Press release). PR Newswire. March 13, 2000. Link via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ Bond, Andrew (April 29, 2011). "Can O'Reilly Keep Its Growth Up?". The Motley Fool .
  14. ↑ "Martin G. Fraser, Don W. Watson, Edward W. O'Brien, and Gary M. Opper: Lit. Rel. No. 20933A / March 6, 2009". Securities and Exchange Commission. March 6, 2009. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  15. ↑ "Complaint for Violations for of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Case 2:09-cv-01510-JWS / July 22, 2009" (PDF). Securities and Exchange Commission. July 22, 2009. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.