Pep Boys opens speed shop with performance parts

Years ago, there was a funky speed shop on East Charleston Boulevard. It was a cool hangout for local car guys (and gals).

Hoping to recapture and revive the culture of a classic speed shop, Pep Boys recently opened its own performance parts and accessories store in Las Vegas, 4155 S. Jones Blvd., the 15th in the country and part of the company's push to have to 100 locations by late spring . A small sample of the shop was featured at the recent Barrett-Jackson auto auction.

"This is a great city with great cars and a lot of car folks," said Pep Boys Senior Vice President Scott Webb, whose own fascination with cars started when he was a youngster helping his mother change the oil in her 1949 Ford.

"Mom got me interested in the mechanics and the interiors. Dad would paint them for us," said Webb, who worked his way up from changing oil to working at AutoZone to being hired in 2007 to help rebuild Pep Boys' 91-year-old brand.

The Las Vegas location is notable for not only the store's square footage, but for the amount of parking space.

"We want to encourage people to cruise by their cars, host car shows and just hang out," Webb said.

Dave Sorrentino, who purchases all the performance parts and wheels for the chain as category manager, explained that the speed shop also hosts do-it-yourself seminars.

"Sure, we'll put it on for you, but we know 80 to 90 percent of our customers like to work on their cars and we'll offer to help them along the way," he said. "If not, we have an expert on hand to do the work and chances are he has a cool car, too."

The shop is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 362-3833 or visit www.pepboys.com.