IN THE BEGINNING
County Line Auto Parts, one of America's largest privately owned salvage yards and auto parts suppliers today, traces its roots back to 1996 when Randy Roberts made the decison to open a small-scale salvage yard located right at the "county line" where Jackson County & Johnson County meet. In 2003, Krystyn Mitchell, Kent Roberts, and Dennis Roberts, all family members, purchased the business from their uncle Randy. Their primary focus at the time was to grow the business into a modern auto recycling facility that provided the community and the industry with another choice for purchasing used parts that was customer-driven, but also had a commitment to high quality standards and environmental preservation.
All three co-founders helped provide the footprint for what County Line Auto Parts is today! In the beginning, Dennis focused on the acquisition and expansion of the business. Kent handled the day-to-day operations and developed strategies to grow sales. Krystyn focused on building the company's internal infastructure, developing policies and procedures, and growing relationships with other yards across the country. She was also the first woman president of Quality Replacement Parts (QRP), now a part of Team PRP, which was a huge achievement in our industry. After reshaping the business, we hired Joe Roederer and Don Morris, both of whom emerged as top salesmen in town and eventually became partners in the business, with Don retiring from County Line Auto Parts in 2013.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Initially, County Line Auto Parts faced adversity because it was a small operation located on the fringe of Kansas City that entered an already mature and competitive auto parts market. The year 2003 would mark a turning point for growth however, once the team took over. Despite starting out with minimal funding, County Line Auto Parts grew the first year from a staff of 5 to 15, introduced dedicated dismantling bays, and saw immediate growth once we began acquiring newer and higher-quality cars to help build the business.
On February 1, 2009, a major setback occurred that most customers at the time did not even know happened. Just minutes before the kickoff for Super Bowl XLIII, a fire engulfed the entire back end of the main building, damaging countless parts and creating a major shift in the operation. As soon as the scene was released by the authorities, the entire staff rallied together and went to work. Despite the devastation, the business was somewhat operational the very next day. For over 6 months, while insurance claims were being evaluated and the rebuild progressed, the County Line team worked countless hours to overcome the adversity, determined to make the best of the situation through commitment and hard work. Ultimately, the rebuild process was completed, but only after many valuable lessons were gained that centered around insurance and overcoming adversity as a family and team.
COUNTY LINE AUTO PARTS TODAY
By the end of 2009, the business had not only been rebuilt but we expanded operations with additional inventory, services, buildings and warehouse space. The team invested in a fleet of trucks to deliver parts within a 100-mile radius and began shipping parts nationwide. Over the last 20 years, County Line Auto Parts has grown to become one of the most trusted names as an auto part supplier within the greater Kansas City area.
Today, County Line Auto Parts has grown to a team of 50 employees and has expanded its nationwide footprint by developing partnerships with fleet companies, car lot chains, and warranty companies. The business has achieved this growth without compromising its commitment to the local shops and the Kansas City community. Without our customers' loyalty, County Line Auto Parts would not be what it is today.
County Line Auto Parts stands as a testament to resilience, dedication, and strategic expansion within the auto parts industry. If you don't know much about us, we invite you to learn more about our operation by visiting our photo gallery and meeting our team. Just remember whatever your auto parts needs might be, we are here to provide the solution by: simply letting us fulfuill your order with quality, recycled parts from our extensive inventory, providing you a cut sheet to replace damaged sheet metal, exploring remanufactured engines and transmissions, or referring you to our "U-Pull" yard located near the stadiums in Kansas City so you can pick and pull the part yourself. Whatever your needs might be, County Line Auto Parts has you covered!
Feel free to send us a direct message here or give us a call today at 816-697-3535 and let us know how we can best help you. We look forward to hearing from you!
