BIZNOTE: Another West Seattle Triangle automotive business closing (updated Wednesday)

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ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Thanks for the tip. Another automotive business in The Triangle has announced it’s closing. This time it’s Pep Boys (4441 Fauntleroy Way SW). We talked with manager Natasha, who confirmed that May 2 will be the business’s last day. They say the company’s closing this location (which it leases) because of impending light-rail construction; we’re checking with Sound Transit, as 2027 has long been cited as the expected start of construction – the project’s Environmental Impact Statement notes that this site would have been affected by any of the alternatives considered including tunneling into The Junction, which is what the “preferred alternative” calls for. The manager told us one of their employees will retire and the rest will have an option to move to Pep Boys’ SODO location (1961 4th Avenue S.). If you’ve been around more than a few years, you might recall that this was formerly Elliott Tire/Goodyear, until the Pep Boys rebranding in 2018. The closure news comes less than a month after Advance Auto Parts shuttered a short distance north, a closure that company said was part of a West Coast wave of closures. Between AAP and PB is the long-vacant former Midas site.

UPDATE ADDED WEDNESDAY: We asked Sound Transit spokesperson Henry Bendon about this site’s status. He reaffirmed that West Seattle light-rail construction is NOT starting in 2026, and added, “Our real property team has indicated they have not begun acquisition communications with that property (I do not know if they will or if it is impacted, but if it is, they have not started the process yet).”

CarDriver April 1, 2025 (3:51 pm)

Is Tom’s Automotive affected by any ST routing scenario??

bolo April 1, 2025 (4:10 pm)

Pep Boys has been mixed up with Advance Auto Parts and Carl Icahn in its recent past. There may be additional reasons behind the closing.

WSB April 1, 2025 (9:26 pm)

So far as I can tell, this is a one-off.

Chris April 1, 2025 (5:40 pm)

We were wondering about Doyles too since we heard Alki Lumber is on the list. & close. Thank you.

SRHNA April 1, 2025 (8:06 pm)

Some of the elevated options could potentially impact it, but the “preferred medium tunnel” alternative seems to avoid it. You will also note that the “No Avalon Station tunnel alternative” in the Final EIS would appear to have little to impact on Fauntleroy at all (except truck traffic) and is less expensive.

WSB April 1, 2025 (9:08 pm)

Look at the document I linked. Page L-4, 1-24 (or browser-find for 4441 Fauntleroy)
https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/12a-wsble-drafteis-appendixl-supportinginformation-l4.1-202201.pdf
- SRHNA April 1, 2025 (9:30 pm)
  
  Oops meant to reply to the question regarding Tom’s Automotive. But relative to 4441 Fauntleroy and the tunnel alternatives the only likely appreciable impact to the property would be an underground easement.

Don Brubeck April 1, 2025 (9:10 pm)

Though the site has been doomed to change by Sound Transit and zoning for taller buildings, I will really miss the always careful, courteous service from Natasha, Corinthius, and everyone at Pep Boys on Fauntleroy.

Kay Kole Leary April 2, 2025 (10:07 am)

Thank you Pep Boys for years of convenient, courteous, competent service. We will miss you, and will miss being able to drop off the car and walk home.I truly hope all this disruption ends eventually with transit services, and NOT a row of multi-story, multi-use buildings, like stand across from Jefferson Square, and where the location of the LAST light rail fairytale was to be.

Deejay April 2, 2025 (5:19 pm)

its amazing how many auto-related businesses have gone out of business – yet the population and cars just skyrocket. Going back to Hueling Brothers and Schuck’s Auto at the current LA Fitness location. I cannot imagine people are taking their cars to dealerships and paying that premium.