The former owner of Camas Auto Parts has closed that business and is now working at the local NAPA Auto Parts store.
Steve Sonderen sold his store’s inventory to Gunnar Grant, owner of the NAPA/Clark County Auto & Truck Supply locations in Camas and Battle Ground.
“To compete with national chains, I would have had to invest $300,000 in inventory,” Sonderen said, explaining the reason for his business’ closure after 42 years.
Sonderen started working at Camas Auto Parts in 1973, and he bought it in 1982. It was most recently located at 3132 N.E. Third Ave., after moving from 430 N.E. Cedar St., in downtown Camas.
Sonderen’s new job at NAPA is in customer relations and auto parts sales. Mike Carney, a former Camas Auto Parts employee, has also been hired to work at NAPA in the area of auto parts sales.
Sonderen’s son, Joe, is now the parts manager at Lemon-Aide Automotive Inc., in Camas.
In addition to car paint, flashlights and wiper blades, NAPA has trailer hitches, motor oil, coolant, car and truck repair manuals, safety goggles and mechanic coveralls.
NAPA Auto Parts, 2008 S.E. Eighth Ave., Ste. 101, is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 834-1411 or visit www.napaonline.com/wa/camas.
