NAPA to open in Emporium

Emporium's new NAPA store is set to open May 15, according to owners Mike and Kitty Reid (pictured).

A long-time business owner hopes to open a NAPA Auto Parts store in downtown Emporium on May 15.

Kitty Reid, of Reid's Hometown Emporium and Radio Shack on Fourth Street, announced she is working on the plan with Dave Stewart, who owned the NAPA store. After Stewart's building was damaged by a fire in December,

he decided to not reopen the store.

Emporium needs an auto parts store," Reid said. "We decided to do it."

On board is her husband, Mike Reid, and Bob Foster, a fixture at the former NAPA store across the street for many years. Shelves should be stocked with merchandise on May 12.

"We hope to carry everything that Dave did," Reid said, adding that the business will offer a delivery service.

She has been spending time with Stewart at his NAPA store in St. Marys to become familiar with the business.

"Dave has been really good to us," Reid added.

Mike and Kitty took over Hometown Emporium and Radio Shack from their mother and father, Linda and John Reid, about three years ago.

They had partnered with them after returning to the area in 1994. Before that, they ran a Sears store as well as a Western Auto in Albion, N.Y.