Trak Auto

Trak Auto Corporation

Company type	Private
Industry	Retail (automotive parts and accessories)
Founded	1979
Founder	Robert Haft
Defunct	2002
Fate	Bankruptcy and acquisition by Advance Auto Parts
Headquarters	Landover, Maryland , United States
Area served	United States (Washington D.C., Richmond, Chicago, Los Angeles metropolitan areas)
Key people	Robert Haft (founder), Richard Stone (CEO from 1997)
Products	Automotive parts and accessories

Trak Auto Corporation was a U.S.-based retail chain focused on selling automotive parts and accessories, headquartered in Landover, Maryland. Established in 1979 by Robert Haft, the company reached its zenith in 1993 with 333 outlets nationwide operating under the Trak Auto, Super Trak, and Super Trak Warehouse banners. However, a combination of market contraction, intense competition, and internal management difficulties precipitated a sharp downturn culminating in bankruptcy. Ultimately, its remaining stores were acquired and rebranded by Advance Auto Parts in 2002.

History

Trak Auto was part of the discount retail portfolio managed by the Dart Group, the family holding entity of Herbert Haft, evolving indirectly from Dart Drug. During the early 1970s, Dart Drug's strategy included expanding product offerings beyond typical drugstore items such as prescription medications and health aids. Robert Haft observed significant sales volume of auto supplies within these stores. His analysis revealed that independent, small-scale retailers dominated 80 percent of aftermarket auto parts sales, indicating an opportunity for a national discount chain. After examining competitors like Sears and Pep Boys, Trak Auto was launched in 1979.

The company pursued rapid growth employing an aggressive approach similar to that of its sister company, Crown Books, emphasizing deep discounts on popular products primarily through suburban standalone stores. In 1982, Trak Auto entered a partnership with Los Angeles-based Thrifty Corp, owners of the Thrifty Drug Stores chain, to establish stores in Southern California. This endeavor resulted in significant losses attributed by Haft to inadequate store volume—he estimated needing 50 Chicago stores and 100 Los Angeles stores to reach profitability. When Thrifty was acquired by Pacific Lighting in 1986, it divested its interest in West Coast Trak Auto and Crown Books operations back to Dart for $11.7 million, thereby relieving itself of $40 million in loan guarantees. To boost sales, Trak Auto promoted extended store hours, with some locations operating around the clock.

At its peak in 1993, Trak Auto maintained 333 locations across the Washington D.C., Richmond, Chicago, and Los Angeles metropolitan regions. Around this period, the company shifted its focus toward closing underperforming outlets and introducing larger-format Super Trak stores along with warehouse-style Super Trak Warehouse locations; the inaugural Super Trak store opened in 1992. In 1995, Trak Auto acquired National Auto Stores in Pittsburgh with plans to convert these into its superstore format. However, the early 1990s were marked by internal strife within the Dart Group due to conflicts between Herbert and Robert Haft and Herbert’s divorce from Gloria Haft. This family dispute reportedly led to strategic financial measures aimed at weakening Gloria and Robert’s positions; for example, Trak Auto’s reported income for 1994 declined by 98% compared to the previous year.

The legal resolution of this dispute occurred in 1995, followed by the appointment of Richard Stone as Dart Group CEO in 1997. Despite improved management stability, the company faced challenges from stagnant sales as consumer interest waned in DIY automotive repairs amid a strong economy encouraging professional services. In October 1997, Trak Auto exited the Southern California market by selling its 80 stores to CSK Auto, which rebranded them as Kragen Auto Parts. The following year saw supermarket operator Richfood acquire Dart Group primarily for its Shoppers Food & Pharmacy business; consequently, Trak Auto was sold off in 1999 to HalArt LLC. HalArt aimed to operate it alongside Cleveland-based Forest City Auto Parts and other automotive retailers.

This strategy ultimately failed as HalArt—doing business as Restoration Auto Parts—and Trak Auto filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2001. By then, Forest City had already declared bankruptcy and undergone liquidation. The bankruptcy court ordered complete liquidation of the company’s assets. The Midwestern outlets were closed while leases for 55 stores located in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and eastern Maryland were acquired by Advance Auto Parts in 2002 and subsequently converted to their branding.

External links

• Official website archived at the Wayback Machine (archived 2001-12-11)