Spalding Auto Parts Inc., a well-known name in Spokane Valley, is growing its footprint with the establishment of Pull & Save Auto Parts Inc. This exciting development includes a brand-new $3 million, 20-acre self-service vehicle salvage yard currently under construction in Mead, Washington. For those in the market for Spalding Car Parts and affordable auto solutions, this expansion promises increased access and convenience.
Russ Spalding, co-owner of Spalding Auto Parts with his father Max Spalding and Dave Kokot, anticipates the new Pull & Save location to be operational as early as this fall. This facility will cater to customers who prefer a hands-on approach, allowing them to bring their own tools and remove spalding car parts and other components for personal projects or resale.
The strategic location for the salvage yard is near the northwest corner of Parksmith Drive and Market Street in Mead. Spalding Auto Parts made a significant investment last fall, purchasing approximately 48 acres from the estate of Jack Hessel for $2.3 million. While the purchased land is substantial, the initial operation will utilize just under half of it.
According to Russ Spalding, the expansion is a direct response to the changing landscape of Spokane’s salvage industry. The development of the north-south freeway led to the closure of three salvage yards. Recognizing this gap in the market, Spalding stated, “the building of the north-south freeway took out three salvage yards in its process of being developed, so we felt there’s a need up there.” This new Pull & Save yard aims to fill that void and provide continued access to spalding car parts and salvage services in the northern Spokane region.
Spalding Auto Parts has a long and rich history in the area, dating back to 1934 when it first started operations. Their existing 50-acre headquarters at 2210 N. University, strategically located north of Interstate 90, already houses a successful Pull & Save yard with approximately 10,000 vehicles, alongside a full-service auto yard. At this established location, employees expertly dismantle around 3,500 vehicles each year, salvaging about 80 percent of the materials. These salvaged materials, including a wide array of spalding car parts, are then made available for sale to both the public and businesses. The remaining materials are processed for recycling in Seattle, demonstrating Spalding’s commitment to sustainable practices within the auto parts industry.
The new Mead facility will focus exclusively on the self-service model. “What’s happening up north is it’s a self-service yard only, and there will be no full service,” Spalding clarified. This specialization allows them to streamline operations and concentrate on providing a vast inventory of vehicles for customers seeking affordable spalding car parts.
The Mead Pull & Save yard is designed to accommodate between 1,300 and 1,400 vehicles. While the company plans to acquire around 700 vehicles monthly, they intend to maintain the yard’s inventory at a consistent level of up to 1,400 vehicles. Spalding believes there is a significant untapped resource of vehicles needing salvage in the region, noting that due to the closure of North Side salvage yards, many older vehicles “are, in our mind, still sitting in people’s backyards not being processed.” This new facility aims to address this backlog and efficiently process these vehicles, making their parts accessible to the public as spalding car parts.
Spalding Auto Parts is a significant employer in the Spokane Valley, currently employing around 190 people. The new Pull & Save business in Mead is expected to create local jobs as well. Initially, they plan to hire about 12 staff members upon opening, with anticipated growth to 25 employees at the Mead site within the first few months of operation.
Garco Construction Inc., based in Spokane, is the lead contractor for the Mead development project. The construction includes an approximately 10,500-square-foot retail and storage building, as well as a 6,500-square-foot processing facility. This processing building is crucial for environmentally responsible vehicle handling. It will be equipped for the safe removal of fluids, batteries, and antifreeze from incoming vehicles. Garco also handled the design of both buildings, and the processing facility will feature an advanced rack system that can tilt vehicles for efficient fluid draining and dismantling. Furthermore, an electric-powered crusher will be housed within the processing building to compact stripped vehicle frames into manageable blocks for recycling, further emphasizing Spalding’s commitment to efficient and environmentally sound practices in the spalding car parts and auto salvage industry.
