Advance Auto Parts Accelerates Store Closings Throughout the U.S.

Struggling auto parts retailer Advance Auto Parts (AAP) , with nearly 5,000 retail stores, has accelerated its strategic turnaround plan to close 727 corporate-owned and independent locations, as well as four West Coast distribution centers, by the end of March. However, Advance Auto Parts in Beattyville will NOT be closing, according to the local retail store. 

Originally, the auto parts retailer revealed in November 2024 that it planned to close the stores and distribution centers by mid-2025 and lay off a significant amount of its 65,000 employees.

The company will consolidate its distribution centers into 13 large facilities around the nation by 2026. The company-owned store closings amount to about 10% of its corporate stores, while the reduction of the independent locations equals 20% of Advance Auto Parts' non-corporate locations. 

The Raleigh, N.C.-based auto parts retailer operated 4,781 stores, mostly in the U.S., and 1,125 independently owned Carquest branded stores as of Oct. 5, 2024. 

Advance Auto Parts said it would save about $60 million to $80 million in operating costs related to its store closures, and the elimination of the 727 stores would also reduce its annual net sales by about $700 million. The reduction in personnel from the closed stores and facilities would yield about $50 million in annual savings, the company said.

The auto parts dealer also plans to expand its network of market hub stores that operate as both retail and distribution facilities and are larger than its retail shops, the company said in its Feb. 26 earnings call.

Advance Auto Parts currently operates 19 market hub stores and plans to open 10 more in 2025. The company plans to accelerate market hub store openings in 2026 and target a total of 60 locations by mid-2027. 

The auto parts retailer completed the sale of auto parts wholesaler and distributor Worldpac for $1.5 billion on Nov. 1, 2024.