Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Company History
Advance Auto Parts History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1929 in Roanoke, Virginia
When was Advance Auto Parts founded?
Advance Auto Parts was founded in 1929 in Roanoke, Virginia by Arthur Taubman, making it 97 years old.
- Founded
- 1929
- Founding place
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Founders
- Arthur Taubman
- Headquarters today
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Milestones documented
- 13 (1929–2025)
- Current CEO
- Shane O'Kelly
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Advance Stores founded |
| 1932 | Arthur Taubman acquires Advance Stores |
| 1996 | Professional delivery program begins |
| 1998 | Western Auto operations acquired |
| 2001 | Discount Auto Parts acquired and NYSE listing begins |
| 2005 | Autopart International acquired |
| 2014 | General Parts International acquired |
| 2018 | Raleigh designated corporate headquarters |
| 2019 | DieHard brand acquired |
| 2023 | Shane O'Kelly appointed CEO |
| 2024 | Worldpac sold to Carlyle |
| 2024 | Restructuring plan approved |
| 2025 | Store-footprint optimization completed |
- Where was Advance Auto Parts founded?
- Advance Auto Parts was founded in Roanoke, Virginia in 1929.
- Who founded Advance Auto Parts?
- Advance Auto Parts was founded by Arthur Taubman.
- When did Advance Auto Parts start?
- Advance Auto Parts was founded in 1929.
- How old is Advance Auto Parts?
- Advance Auto Parts is 97 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
The company traces Advance Stores Company to 1929. On April 29, 1932, Arthur Taubman acquired the three-store business, consisting of two locations in Roanoke and one in Lynchburg, Virginia. The retailer initially sold general merchandise as well as automotive products before narrowing its focus to automotive parts.
Founders
Arthur Taubman
Advance Stores Company existed before Taubman's ownership, which is why the FY2025 Form 10-K gives 1929 as the company's founding year. The company's own 90th-anniversary history identifies April 29, 1932 as the date Arthur Taubman acquired the business and began the ownership era from which modern Advance Auto Parts developed. Arthur Taubman was born in 1901 in Astoria. Taubman died on March 15, 1994 in Boca Raton, Florida. He is also remembered as a humanitarian.
Key Milestones
Advance Stores founded
The FY2025 Form 10-K states that the company was founded as Advance Stores Company in 1929.
Source: sec.govArthur Taubman acquires Advance Stores
Arthur Taubman acquired the three-store business on April 29, 1932, with locations in Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia.
Source: shop.advanceautoparts.comProfessional delivery program begins
Advance initiated its professional delivery program, a precursor to its professional installer channel.
Source: sec.govWestern Auto operations acquired
Advance acquired Western Auto operations from Sears, expanding its store footprint.
Source: latimes.comDiscount Auto Parts acquired and NYSE listing begins
Advance acquired Discount Auto Parts and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
Source: freemanspogli.comAutopart International acquired
Advance acquired Autopart International to expand service to professional customers.
Source: aftermarketnews.comGeneral Parts International acquired
Advance completed the $2.04 billion acquisition of General Parts International, adding Carquest and Worldpac.
Source: bloomberg.comRaleigh designated corporate headquarters
Advance designated Raleigh, North Carolina as its corporate headquarters.
Source: commerce.nc.govDieHard brand acquired
Advance purchased the DieHard brand from Transformco for $200 million in cash.
Source: businesswire.comShane O'Kelly appointed CEO
Shane O'Kelly joined Advance as president and chief executive officer in September 2023.
Source: businesswire.comWorldpac sold to Carlyle
Advance completed the sale of Worldpac to Carlyle in November 2024 after announcing a $1.5 billion transaction value.
Source: carlyle.comRestructuring plan approved
The board approved a restructuring and asset optimization plan focused on profitability, store closures, and organizational changes.
Source: sec.govStore-footprint optimization completed
Advance closed 522 stores during fiscal 2025 and ended the 53-week year with 4,305 company-operated stores.
Source: sec.govMajor Acquisitions
Western Auto operations from Sears
1998Advance acquired Western Auto operations to expand beyond its existing Eastern U.S. footprint. The announced consideration included $175 million in cash and an equity stake for Sears.
Discount Auto Parts, Inc.
2001The acquisition expanded Advance in Florida and other Southeastern markets and coincided with the company becoming publicly traded on the NYSE.
Autopart International, Inc.
2005Advance acquired the commercial parts supplier in an all-cash transaction to expand service to professional repair customers.
General Parts International, Inc.
2014The all-cash acquisition added the Carquest and Worldpac businesses and expanded Advance in the professional automotive aftermarket.
DieHard brand from Transformco
2019Advance purchased the DieHard brand for $200 million in cash to add the recognized battery brand to its owned-brand portfolio.
Keep researching Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts Company History FAQ
When was Advance Auto Parts founded?
The FY2025 Form 10-K traces Advance Stores Company to 1929. Arthur Taubman acquired the three-store predecessor on April 29, 1932, the date used for the Taubman-era origin story.
When did Advance become publicly traded?
Advance became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in connection with its 2001 acquisition of Discount Auto Parts.
When did Advance move its headquarters to Raleigh?
Advance designated Raleigh, North Carolina as its corporate headquarters in November 2018.
When was Worldpac sold?
Advance completed the Worldpac sale to Carlyle in November 2024.
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