Construction Begins on Ironwood O'Reilly's Auto Part Store
IRONWOOD, MI - Saturday, June 20, 2009 - Construction has begun on the new O'Reilly's Auto Part Store on Cloverland Drive. The new store is being constructed where the former Hardee's Restaurant was located. The Hardee's building is scheduled to be razed shortly to provide parking space for the new auto parts store.
Ruotsala Concrete Construction is pouring the footings and getting doing the excavating in the photos above.
According to information provided by the company, O'Reilly Automotive, Incorporated was officially incorporated as an auto parts business in Springfield, Missouri, in November of 1957. The company's background, however, in the automotive business, as well as the family's quest for opportunity and advancement, may be traced back to a much earlier time.
Escaping from the hard times of the potato famine, which struck Ireland in 1845-46, Michael Byrne O'Reilly immigrated to America in 1849. He settled in St. Louis where he worked his way through school to earn a law degree. After receiving his law degree he started a career as a title examiner. His son, Charles Francis O'Reilly, went to college in St. Louis and began working in 1914 for Fred Campbell Auto Supply in St. Louis as a traveling salesman. It didn't take Charles long to become familiar with the Springfield area. By 1924, having traveled by train to sell auto parts throughout the territory, he knew the area by heart. Charles saw the region as an area of growth and opportunity and he urged his company transfer him there. In 1932, he became the manager of Link Motor Supply in Springfield. His son Charles H. (Chub) O'Reilly, also joined the company. The worked together to provide the leadership and management that made Link the predominant auto parts store in the area.
Link planned a reorganization in 1957, which would have included the retirement of 72-year-old Charles F. O'Reilly, and the transfer of C. H. O'Reilly to Kansas City. Since the O'Reilly's didn't agree with these plans, they decided to form their own company, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. In November of 1957 the began operations with one store and 13 employees at 403 Sherman in Springfield. They managed to sell over $700,000 worth of merchandise in 1958, their first full year of business. The business grew and prospered from its very first year due to the hard work and ability of the original employees, several of whom were stockholders in the company.
The company's volume had reached $1.3 million by 1961; a figure which indicates the combined volume of O'Reilly Automotive and Ozark Automotive Distributors, a division which had been formed to serve independent automotive jobbers in the area. In March of 1975, annual sales volume had grown to over $7 million and a modern, 52,000-square-foot facility at 233 South Patterson was built for the O'Reilly/Ozark warehouse operation. By that time, the company had a total of nine stores, all located in the southwest Missouri area.
On April 23, 1993, the company completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of common stock, and it now trades in the NASDAQ system under the symbol ORLY. In addition to stock for sale to the general public, the company also has a stock purchase plan to enable as many team members as possible to own stock in the company.
On January 30, 1998, O'Reilly merged with Hi/LO Auto Supply, adding 190 auto parts stores in Texas, and Louisiana, as well as a distribution center in Houston, Texas. The Hi/LO acquisition made O'Reilly one of the top ten auto parts chains in the country.
On April 25, 2000, O'Reilly Auto Parts announced the purchase of KarPro Auto Parts, which includes 66,000 square foot distribution center In Little Rock, Arkansas and 14 KarPro stores.
On October 1, 2001, O'Reilly purchased Mid-State Automotive Distributors, Inc., adding 85 auto parts stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee as well as four distribution centers in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Pensacola. The acquisition made O'Reilly one of the top five auto parts chains in the country. O'Reilly added its 11th distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia in March 2005.
On May 2, 2005, O'Reilly purchased Midwest Automotive Distributors, Inc., adding 71 retail locations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming and two distribution centers located in St. Paul, MN, and Billings, MT.
On July 11, 2008, the company completed the biggest acquisition in O'Reilly history with the purchase of CSK Auto. This and past acquisitions made O'Reilly one of the top three auto parts chains in the country.
Today, the company has over 3,337 stores in 38 states. Total sales were $3.5 billion for the year ending 2008.
Executive officers of the company include David O'Reilly, Chairman of the Board; Greg Henslee, Chief Executive Officer and Co-President; Ted Wise, Chief Operating Officer and Co-President; Tom McFall, Chief Financial Officer.
Throughout this time, the underlying spirit and philosophy of O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. has been one of growth and progress, both for the company and for its team members. This remains the policy to which the company is dedicated today.
More information about the new Ironwood store will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
