LEWISTON, Maine — VIP Parts, Tires and Service has sold its auto parts related assets to a company in Missouri.
Springfield, Mo.-based O’Reilly Automotive Inc. is expected to close on the purchase agreement by the end of the year, according to a media release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Lewiston-based VIP was founded in 1958 and operates 56 stores in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, as well as a distribution center in Maine. In 2001, Quirk Tire of Watertown, Mass., purchased VIP and brought all the locations under the VIP format.
After the sale is complete, VIP will continue to own and operate the tire and service components of the business, and O’Reilly Automotive will own and operate the automotive parts sales and distribution operations of the business.
O’Reilly Automotive was founded in 1957 and operates 3,896 stores in 39 states.
Too bad they didn’t buy everything. VIP has such a ripoff reputation for service that it would have been nice to have a new look for this well. If that happened ai would have considered going back.
Not once have I heard anything good about their service. I can’t imagine how they are still in business.
Looks like VIP is selling itself off piece by piece. They sold their commercial tire division to Pete’s back in April, allegedly so they could make “investments” in their parts and retail tire and service business. So much for that investment in the parts business…maybe they should rename themselves “RIP.”
Junk store , period.