Whatever happened to the local speedshops ?

[Skytrooper]

There used to be plenty of them. Even when I was in the Navy they had them on base. You could rent a bay with a lift...or no lift, tools, etc. Now there is nothing. Not around here anyway.

 

[kiwigtx]

Mail Order stole them from us.

 

[Under Pressure]

Mail Order stole them from us.

Too true
I sure miss Ramchargers in the Detroit locations, and occasionally ordering from
JC Whitney catalog

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Brick and Mortar got it's azz kicked by the internet

 

[R413]

Jegs & Summit. When did you start buying from them? Killed the local guys. End of story.

The local speed shops had mostly GM parts in stock, no help to the Mopar guys.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Jegs & Summit. When did you start buying from them? Killed the local guys. End of story.

You are absolutely correct.

 

[yella71]

Im lucky, I have a speed shop near me in rockaway NJ. about 15 min. they have a ton of stuff there.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Jegs & Summit. When did you start buying from them? Killed the local guys. End of story.

Same as Home Depot killed small hardware stores

 

[Skytrooper]

Jegs & Summit. When did you start buying from them? Killed the local guys. End of story.

Personally, I have made 2 total purchases from JEGS and Summit, both within the past 1.5 years. So perhaps I had nothing to do with it. They have been gone from here for a lot longer than that.

 

[Skytrooper]

I always thought they were great, especially if you didn't have a garage or some place to work on your car. Plus there were usually other guys there that were knowledgeable, who might be able to help you out...kind of like this forum and it's members.

 

[toolmanmike]

Yep, they were a fun place to hang out and more fun to work at.

View attachment 1220766

 

[Fran Blacker]

Have a speed shop near by. They stay in business by selling things they can install.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

The last speed shop chain around here was Super Shops

 

[silversedan]

we used to have HI Rev speed shops here in central Wi. used to go there almost every weekend. great place , they used to have a consinment corner with used speed parts etc. it was nice. the last store in a local town moved around town 3 times till it finally closed the doors.

 

[SattyNoCar]

And the reason mail order 'stole' their business was the huge price differences. There was a local speed shop when I moved here over 20 yrs ago. Just to give an example, generic 'turbo mufflers'. Mail order they were like $10-$15 ea. at the time, shop wanted $45 ea. for the same item. I understand a brick and mortar is going to have more overhead and a smaller customer base, but at what point does it just become price gouging?
Personally, I miss PAW (remember their HUGE catalog?). From what I read at the time, they just couldn't adapt to online sales.

 

[Red63440]

This is where I bought my parts when I was a kid and they are still in business.

 

[Gort]

They're still a few around here...

Of course they've only got Cheby and Ferd stuff...

 

[kiwigtx]

The last speed shop chain around here was Super Shops

I went to several of the Super Shops outlets....still have a tee shirt somewhere.....probably doesn't fit me now (material shrinks)
Riverside was one I spent a lot of money with.

 

[rmchrgr]

Have a speed shop near by. They stay in business by selling things they can install.

In CT? Where?

I still go to S-K Speed on Long Island if I'm in the area. I used to live 25 minutes from it, I miss having it close by. They've been around since the mid '60s. They still have a performance machine shop associated with the store, they'll fill your nitrous bottle, have any AN fitting or ARP fastener you would ever want, books, exhaust tubing, turbo parts, fluids, tires, anything and everything. If they don't have it they can get it for you. The kids behind the counter are generally OK, a few have been there for a while now. The manager has been there forever, he knows his stuff.

 

[440Coronet500]

Ramchargers, Gratiot Auto, and Mancini's come to mind. Metro Detroit area. 440'