Major auto parts center heads to Chowchilla, promising nearly 300 new jobs.
Chowchilla is slated to host a new distribution center for AutoZone, Inc., bringing with it hundreds of new jobs to the city, the company announced Thursday. Construction isn’t scheduled to start until summer of 2022. But when it does, more than 280 new jobs in the Madera County region will follow, according to an AutoZone news release. “We are very excited for this new development and what it means for the City of Chowchilla and the people who live here,” said Chowchilla Mayor John Chavez in a city news release. “We needed a way to create new jobs for the community, so they do not have to commute outside our city for work, and they can spend more time with their families.”
A capital investment of approximately $150 million is earmarked for the project. The distribution center is expected to open in Chowchilla in 2024, the AutoZone release said. According to AutoZone, construction on the distribution center is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2022 for a projected opening in 2024. “We are thankful and applaud AutoZone for recognizing Chowchilla’s potential with a large development such as this one; it is a welcomed addition to our community,” said City of Chowchilla Administrator Rod Pruett in the city release.
AutoZone currently has over 640 stores across California. The company operates over 6,000 stores nationwide and more than 600 in Mexico, as well as over 50 in Brazil, according to the release, making it the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas. “During our process to identify our next distribution center location, Chowchilla’s leadership team has been amazing and has helped solidify our decision to come to and be an integral part of this great community,” said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President, and CEO of AutoZone. “Our significant investment in Chowchilla represents our commitment to always putting our customers first and is an important part of our strategy for accelerated growth.”