AutoZone, the largest retail automobile parts chain store in the
country, plans to open a new store in Morgan Hill by next year.
AutoZone, the largest retail automobile parts chain store in the country, plans to open a new store in Morgan Hill by next year.
The new store will be located at the northwest corner of West Edmundson Avenue and Monterey Road, the former site of a Burger King restaurant which closed earlier this year.
The new store is expected to open by October 2011, according to AutoZone spokesman Ray Pohlman. The store will employ 10 people – seven of whom will be full-time and three part-time.
Architectural plans have been approved by city staff, according to community development department director Steve Piasecki.
AutoZone has signed a long-term lease with the property owner of the site, and the company plans to improve the corner to make the location more accessible for motorists, property owner Bruno Martino said. The existing structure that formerly housed Burger King will be demolished, and all the existing landscaping and curbs will be “completely scraped,” Martino said.
The new AutoZone building will be larger than the former Burger King and the lot will contain about 30 parking spaces, Martino said. Plus, the existing exit from the property on Monterey Road will be closed, and both an entrance and exit will be moved onto West Edmundson Avenue.
“The city wants them to dress it up,” Martino said. “It’s going to be a very nice-looking building. In my opinion, it will be the best looking corner out of the four (at that intersection).”
AutoZone has more than 4,000 stores and employs about 55,000 people throughout the country. It will compete with at least five existing all-purpose auto parts retailers in town, including Kragen Auto Parts which across Monterey Road from AutoZone’s future site.
