Advance Auto Parts moving to new Cedar Rapids location

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The second-largest retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the nation is relocating its southwest Cedar Rapids store.

Advance Auto Parts is building an 8,965-square-foot store at 3000 16th Ave. SW, directly across the road from its existing 6,012-square-foot location at 2939 16th Ave. SW.

Shelly Whitaker, manager of public communications for the Roanoke, Va.-based retailer, said the company expects to be operating in the new building on July 1.

"Our existing location is not as efficient in terms of heating and cooling," Whitaker said. "Our in-house real estate team is constantly evaluating our portfolio of locations to determine how best to serve our customers."

Advance Auto Parts leases a portion of a 21,741-square-foot building constructed in 1972. The owners are listed in city assessor's records as Roger and Colleen Cassill.

The new Advance Auto Parts building  has required construction of a frontage road off 16th Avenue SW. The land where the new store will be located has been offered for sale for many years and the new frontage road might enhance the use of that property.

Advance Auto Parts, a publicly owned company with stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange, operates more 3,500 stores in 40 states. It has additional stores in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Iowa City, Independence and Waterloo.