Pep Boys is celebrating its 20th anniversary serving the residents of Puerto Rico. The official date that Pep Boys entered the automotive aftermarket in Puerto Rico was July 17, 1995. At that time, the island touted 4 million residents and 2 million cars, as well as a large population of DIYers and backyard mechanics.
Pep Boys met the demand for high-quality automotive parts and accessories, and went on to open Fleet operations (1997) and the Pep Express Parts business (1998). As of August 2014, Speed Shops, a store-within-a-store catering to car enthusiasts in supplying all they’ll need in performance, have been opened in Bayamon, Carolina, Hatillo, Humacao, Mayaguez and Ponce. Puerto Rico hosts 23 Pep Boys Supercenters (service and retail) and four Express (retail only) stores located in strip malls or freestanding buildings around the island.
The company’s week-long 20th anniversary event will take place July 12-19, and will feature some great retail sales and service specials. In addition, there will be a special all-day celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 18 at all 27 stores featuring giveaways, music and surprises for customers. That same day, the Pep Boys mascots – Manny, Moe & Jack – will be posing for photographs at the Fajardo store and there will be a cake-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.
From the beginning, Pep Boys said it was a priority to establish a presence on the island that leveraged homegrown talent and culture. Native islanders work at all locations in all positions ranging from cashiers to master technicians.
“By nature, our people are very friendly, committed and take a lot of pride in their work,” said Ralph Quintana, regional vice president – Puerto Rico, Pep Boys. “Our philosophy has been to train and prepare our management staff in order to promote within, which has helped to develop and sustain a solid team in each store.”
The company has also customized the product mix in stores to accommodate the tropical climate and provide motorists with exactly what they need for their cars.
“Pep Boys has enjoyed an extremely prosperous and rewarding 20 years in Puerto Rico,” added Quintana. “I would like to thank our wonderful associates for taking good care of our customers, and our customers for being loyal supporters of Pep Boys on the island.”
