Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

The Price & Faces of Progress

Clyde Jones Auto Parts—Family Owned & Operated Since 1953

Story by David Brewer

Jerry Jones was the very first employee of Clyde Jones Auto Parts when his father decided to add an auto parts division to his long-established garage in June 1967. During his first summer on the job, Jones catalogued each of the store’s 40,000 part numbers on index cards. Along with his father, Jones has been a fixture in the old brick building ever since.

Situated at the bustling intersection of Highways 194 and 421, Clyde Jones Auto Parts was, amazingly enough, once considered by local residents to be inconveniently located outside of town. For a time, customers complained that the business, which opened in 1953 as a garage, was too far from the action.

“We weren’t even in the city limits then,” said Jones, general manager since the early 1970s. “This was basically out in the country.”

According to father and son, Clyde Jones Auto Parts is the second-longest continually running business along the stretch of 421 that will be widened next year. Only Trailways Cleaners—another family run establishment with numbered days before bulldozers claim its spot along Highway 421—has been open longer.

When Clyde Jones Auto Parts opened its doors, cars and trucks were still relatively simple machines, requiring mechanics only to tackle major repairs, while most minor issues could be addressed with a patient afternoon spent under the hood.

Things certainly have changed.

Over the years, the garage that used to be out in the country has become a part of town. The store ceased repairing cars in 1972 and instead opened a full-bore machine shop for the next decade before the owners decided to concentrate solely on selling parts. In addition, businesses have sprung up around Clyde Jones Auto Parts in every direction, cars have become increasingly dependent on computers and the N.C.D.O.T. is preparing to widen the road, uprooting a family business and Boone landmark. The Jones family got the news in March 2007.

“We had heard a little talk about it, but we weren’t really sure,” said Jones. “It’s going to wipe out a lot of old stuff.”

Just inside the front door at Clyde Jones Auto Parts, proudly displayed ASU banners hang over the well-worn countertop where thousands of drivers of all kinds have purchased every conceivable part for their cars and trucks. On most days, you can find Tommy Phelps, Clyde’s son-in-law, chatting with customers about the intricacies of their automobiles or perhaps about his gospel CD from Rutherwood Baptist Church.

Jones chuckles when asked about the inner workings of running a family business. In addition to Jones, his father and Phelps, the store employs Jones’ 27-year-old son Travis and his sister Patty Bryan. Even his mother worked at the store during the early days before her passing in 1980.

“It’s a little different, but it’s nice,” said Jones. “I guess a lot of people can’t say they’ve gotten to work with their dad for 41 years straight. He’s pretty much my best friend. I guess it takes some giving and taking to work with your family, especially in the early years.”

When the new Watauga High School opens to students in 2010, the intersection of Highways 194 and 421 will be even busier than it is now, serving as the nexus of parents and students from both the high school and Hardin Park Elementary. The prospect of trying to run a business in an area that people will likely avoid at all costs doesn’t appeal to Jones.

Despite the increasing number of chain auto part stores opening in Boone, Jones and his family have no intentions of folding after surrendering the store’s location. The family has obtained legal counsel and is awaiting an offer from the N.C.D.O.T. before they set up shop elsewhere. Fortunately for the Jones family, owning their property and building has eased their worry over their ability to successfully relocate. With luck, loyal Clyde Jones Auto Parts customers will move with them.

“As soon as we can find out something with money, then we can proceed on,” said Jones. “It will be hard moving because we’ve been here so long.”

Moving tens of thousands of small automotive parts will be a pain to say the least. While they aren’t all in stock, the store’s catalog of part numbers is now in excess of 300,000. When asked how his father is handling news of the move, Jones indicated that the family patriarch hasn’t been up in arms with the state’s decision.

“He seems to be doing well with it. He really hasn’t said a lot,” said Jones.

At 83 years of age, Clyde Jones may not be a man of many words, but he shows up for work nearly every day, decades after turning over the day-to-day operations to his son.

“He pretty well comes and goes as he pleases, but there are very few days that he doesn’t show up,” said Jones.

While tending to some business in the back of the store, the elder Jones, a native of Meat Camp and a World War II veteran, paused momentarily before revealing his plans upon the closing and demolition of the store he opened more than a half century ago.

“I imagine I’ll leave it up to [my children] and take early retirement,” said the family patriarch.