Auto parts store being built

A new retail strip center anchored by an AutoZone store is being built on an outparcel of Cobb Corners off Benvenue Road.

The land is adjacent to the Ruby Tuesday restaurant.

Tricor International Corp., which leases out space at the Rocky Mount shopping plaza that features a Wal-Mart, is developing the project. Officials from that company and AutoZone could not be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday.

The new building will include a 7,200-square-foot Auto-Zone store and adjacent 5,000 square feet of retail space that will be leased out to other tenants, said Alan Matthews, director of business recruitment for the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. Matthews said he did not know who the other tenants in the plaza might be.

“As far as I know, it is space for lease,” Matthews said.

The AutoZone store, which plans to hire 15 employees, is set to open in January.

It is entering a competitive market.

In August, a 7,600-hundred-square-foot O’Reilly Auto Parts store opened at 1993 Sunset Ave. next to Blockbuster Video. That location is two doors down from Advance Auto Parts, which is next door to Carquest Auto Parts.

A couple of miles away from the new store is a NAPA Auto Parts at 1720 N. Wesleyan Blvd. A manager at that store said Monday that she did not want to comment about the new competitor.

Matthews said that the auto parts store has been doing well in the down economy.

“People are keeping old cars longer,” he said.

Matthews also said the new project is another example of how the Rocky Mount area continues to attract new business despite the down economy.

“From a retail perspective, we still are attracting new business to our community,” he said.