- November 29, 2024
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Not a lot has changed inside Nova North Auto Parts, 1166 S. Nova Road, in the past 35 years. A long row of old parts catalogs still weigh down the counter; and the owners still greet their customers like friends.
“I’m going to miss the good service,” said Rick Jelm of A1A Fence, a nearby business. “They always have a smile and an answer.”
Dale and Dorene Cornelius plan to close by the end of the year after seeing their business affected by the changing world of the Internet, chain stores and disappearing backyard mechanics.
The old parts books are an example of how they have kept things simple through the years.
“We don’t even have an answering machine,” Dorene Cornelius said.
There are still many customers who come in, and say “please don’t close,” there just are not enough to keep the business going.
“The old-fashioned parts stores have come and gone.”
Dorene Cornelius, on closing their business
One of them is Paul Duncan, of Ormond Beach, who said they would help him find parts for those “odd vehicles” where parts changed during a model year.
“He would go into his books and research,” Duncan said. “He did that many times.”
The Corneliuses were known for locating those hard-to-find parts and people from the Turkey Rod Run would often come by. But Dorene Cornelius said it’s harder now to get the old parts because the suppliers don’t want to stock them.
The couple actually saw the writing on the wall about 15 years ago, they said. At one time they had six employees but now it’s just the two of them.
“We’re a true mom and pop business,” Dorene Cornelius said with a smile.
She said they used to joke that there would be no one to sell their inventory to when they finally closed. But, luckily, there is still an independent store on the beachside that is going to buy a lot of it.
She said she will miss the “community of customers.”
Her husband agreed, saying, “That’s the hard part … saying goodbye to them.”
Their business has been affected by the Internet, like many others, because people can buy parts online.
Also, there are also fewer people buying parts. People still work on cars, but there is less you can do because they are computerized, the couple said.
“The old-fashioned parts stores have come and gone,” Dorene Cornelius said. “People take their cars back to the dealer.”
Also, many buyers go to the modern auto parts stores.
Not ready to retire, the couple said they are going to take a month, regroup and “clear their minds.”
“It’s been good to us,” Dale Cornelius said. “It’s been a great ride.”
“When one door closes, another one opens,” his wife said.
