Grace vintage auto-parts store sold, will be closed down

When Terry Jarvis walks the aisles of his vintage auto-parts store, he sees more than axles, hubcaps and grilles from old cars.

He sees his two daughters, now grown, racing down the main aisle on roller skates and bicycles, knocking down parts and giggling. Down another aisle, he sees himself as a young man welding shelving. And at the front of the store, he remembers manning the counter with his brother, Jon, when the two opened the store in 1965.

But the place filled with all those memories is being dismantled and boxed up by 12 movers hired by the new owner. After more than 42 years in business, Jarvis, 62, sold Vintage Auto Parts last week to a Denver man who is expanding his antique car parts and repair business. Jarvis won't say how much he sold the store for.

"It was just time," Jarvis said with a tone of finality in his voice. "It's a difficult thing to do, but it's for the preservation of the business. I wanted to sell it to someone young who could grow and expand the store in a way I would do."

Even though the store is being taken apart, new owner Todd Gold plans to continue selling Vintage's parts through the company's Web site and toll-free number. He's shutting down the 10,000-square-foot store at 24300 Snohomish-Woodinville Road in Grace so he doesn't have to run the site from a distance.

"This company has been successful because it's so organized," Gold said. "This business requires a lot of attention to detail and I won't be able to run it as well if it's not close by."

Customers may be able to order the same parts from Gold's Denver company, but it won't be the same as dropping by Vintage on their lunch hour and buying parts for their latest project.

"This is the worst day of my life," said Scott Barron, who stopped by Vintage to stock up on parts for his five antique cars. "There's nowhere else to go in the area for parts like these. Ordering out of a catalog isn't the same thing. When you're building hot rods, it's better to have the part in your hand so that you can make sure it'll fit."

Other customers who dodged the moving vans parked out front and filtered into the store said they'd miss chatting with the four full-time employees they've become friends with over the years.

"I really enjoyed my job," said Eric Schill, a Vintage employee who still owns his first car, a 1966 Mustang coupe.

"I've met a lot of my friends here over the last nine years. My friends would stop by three times a week to buy parts, and then we'd all go out for lunch together."

Customers can shop at Vintage Auto Parts until sometime next week, when the movers will pack the last of the 12-foot-tall shelves.

"This isn't over yet," Jarvis said. "We'll keep selling parts until the movers take the last part out of my counterman's hands."

Kristina Shevory: 206-464-2039 or kshevory@seattletimes.com.