A pair of longtime auto parts retailers in the region are under new ownership and promising to offer additional parts and services for customers not shy about getting their hands dirty.

All Murray's Discount Auto Stores in metro Toledo soon will sell parts under the O'Reilly Auto Parts banner, while four formerly locally owned ABC Auto Supply stores soon will operate fully under the NAPA Auto Parts name.

The Tarschis family, which has operated the local ABC Auto Supply stores since 1953, sold its four-store chain last month to NAPA, with which the chain has had a working relationship for at least a decade, said Alan Tarschis, the son of the firm's founder, Frank Tarschis.

The stores — at 3250 West Alexis Rd., 6821 West Central Ave., 506 Main St., and 5240 Heatherdowns Blvd. — maintained the same employees and parts offerings after the sale to the National Automotive Parts Association, which operates more than 6,000 stores nationwide.

Meanwhile, the four remaining Murray's Discount stores in metro Toledo will be converted to the O'Reilly Auto Parts brand of its new owner, said Ashley Clark, a spokesman for O'Reilly's.

The sign changes should occur by early next year, Mrs. Clark said.

Murray's parent company, CSK Auto Corp., was purchased by O'Reilly in July, 2008. Together, O'Reilly's will have 61 stores in Ohio and 67 in Michigan, Mrs. Clark said.

Both chains of stores have been in metro Toledo for many years, but have been surpassed, at least in terms of locations, by later entrants to the retail auto parts market.

Those retailers include AutoZone, Advantage, and Advance auto parts stores.

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:lvellequette@theblade.comor 419-724-6091.

First Published November 19, 2009, 10:36 a.m.