McKay NAPA Auto Part’s, the Virden Connection

By Cindy Ladage

NAPA Auto Part’s is a family-owned business that sells auto parts, paint, and more. Located on the south edge of Virden along Route 4, NAPA Manager Ethan Lomelino has worked here for three years. This Virden resident shared that while the store has been in business since June 1995, that they have been a Napa/Genuine Parts store since 2003. This move allowed McKay Auto Parts hands-on capability to obtain over 340,000 parts.

At the Virden store, Ethan said, “We sell parts (car, truck, Ag, and heavy-duty parts, paint, and equipment) to local people.”

What they sell the most depends on the time of year Ethan said with ag parts being a big seller during harvest and planting months, and truck and auto parts being best-sellers year-round. Auto parts availability is especially important for those do-it-yourself auto enthusiasts.

For Ethan, the best part of his job, “Is knowing everyone.  Lots of interesting people live here in Virden.”

The ‘family owned and operated’ Illinois company with 25 locations has over 195 employees, with seven at the Virden location, three full-time employees, and four part-time employees. The longest-term employee at the Virden location is Bob Etter.  “I worked here since 1996,” Bob said, adding, “but I have been doing this since 1970, for 54 years.”

Bob’s favorite part about working at the NAPA Auto Parts store is the same as Ethan’s, the people they interact with daily. For Jessica Basford, who grew up in nearby Pawnee, Illinois, she also enjoys being part of the NAPA auto parts team. While all seven Virden location employees are local, Ethan said their customers come from as far as away as New Berlin, Wagoner, and Waverly.

While most locals know that NAPA sells auto and ag parts Jessica said, “A Lot of people don’t know we also mix paint and have touch up paint. We also sell big truck parts, and some ATV parts.”

She added that they also can make hydraulic lines for customers. In the past there was a machine shop at the store, but that had been moved to its home to headquarters. The Virden store is one of 25 locations under the McKay Corporation umbrella that has been in business since 1937. McKay’s was founded by Vincent McKay, and the business began in a storefront in Staunton, Illinois.

“It started as a mom-and-pop operation. Back then everyone worked on their own vehicles.  The store they started in is now Roosters Pub in Staunton. Over the years things changed,” Bob added. “At one time, there were 15 individual garages here in Virden, now they are all dealerships and service centers. The days of working out of your garage are over.”

With the computerization of the automotive industry Jessica added they must learn new things daily. Thankfully, for local customers, the knowledgeable employees at NAPA can assist those that are still working on older vehicles, two-cylinder tractors and more!

While the Virden NAPA location no longer has a shop, Jessica added that they sell parts to several local dealerships that service vehicles. “We sell to local providers for their local shops.”

Bob explained the transition to NAPA brought in more products for local customers. “We switched from Bumper to Bumper to NAPA in 2003, it was a big thing although we were still owned by McKay’s back then.”

“It offered a lot more availability,” Jessica said. “We have outside sources if you need something.”

Currently McKay Corporation’s NAPA locations can be found throughout Illinois in the towns of Bethalto, Belleville, Bethalto Part Stop, Carlinville, Carlyle, Centralia, Charleston, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Gillespie, Godfrey, Granite City (North), Granite City (South), Greenville, Highland, Hillsboro, Jerseyville, Litchfield, Mount Sterling, Nashville, Nokomis, Rushville, Staunton, Vandalia, and Virden.  In 2024, there was a big event, NAPA Auto Parts celebrated 87 Years of Customer Service’ in 2024.

Glad to be part of the local Virden community, Ethan said they donate funds to local charities and more to the local community.  The McKay family has been involved in charity work for years. On their website, www.mckayauto.net they share, “Proudly, McKay NAPA Auto Parts has been raising money for Make-A-Wish Illinois for 20 years, beginning with their first annual amount of $5,000, in 2003.  Last December, the final tally for 2023 was $72,000!  They were able to provide wishes for 11 area children.  ‘We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy!’  McKay NAPA has raised over $815,000 in 20 years for children.

No matter what your automotive, truck, or Ag needs are, McKay NAPA Auto Parts either has it on hand, or can located it for you through their vast distribution and car care center.  To reach out, call 217-965-4411 or stop by their 613 S. Springfield St. location.