New York Based Auto Service Company Closing 145 Locations

One of America's largest automotive service companies has announced its closing 145 stores across the nation.

The last few years have been extremely difficult for a number of businesses that have struggled with declining sales year after year, leading some to close locations and file for bankruptcy in some cases.

Major Businesses Closing

Numerous big-name pharmacies have been hit hard over the last year, with Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens closing stores and laying off employees. Restaurants and retail have also shuttered locations across the U.S., including Joann Fabrics, Red Robin, and Advance Auto Parts.

The auto service industry appears to be the next business to experience declining profits, leading to one of the nation's biggest companies to announce it will be closing 145 stores.

New York-based Auto Service Industry Closing Stores

According to USA Today, the Fairport, New York-based company Monro has announced that it's planning to close 145 of its more than 1,300 locations across the nation. The announcement comes after the company experienced a 4.9% decrease in sales recently.

SEE ALSO: Trader Joe’s Will Open Another Store In Upstate New York

The company has identified key areas to try and boost sales and earnings, according to the company's president and CEO, Peter Fitzsimmons. Part of its plans is to close more than 140 underperforming stores as well as improve its "customer experience and selling effectiveness," according to a news release.

Fitzsimmons said,

"While our improvement plan will take time to implement, I believe that we will drive enhanced profitability and increase operating income and total shareholder returns in fiscal 2026."

 

What Monro Locations Are Closing?

The company, which provides various auto services including mufflers, brakes, and more, hasn't released a list of the stores it's planning to close yet, but experts say the locations should be identified soon.

Monro Closing New York Stores

Monro currently has over 100 locations across New York, including numerous stores in the Hudson Valley, including stores in:

Poughkeepsie, NY
Wappingers Falls, NY
Hyde Park, NY
Newburgh, NY
Kingston, NY
Rhinebeck, NY
Chester, NY
Middletown, NY
Saugerties, NY
Vails Gate, NY

When the list of stores slated to close is released, we will update this article.

Dispute Leads to New Company Monro

Monro was founded by Chuck August, who started the company after he opened a Midas Muffler shop in 1957. Business was good for the next eight years, but soon fractured after August, and Midas disagreed over which services would be offered at each store.

August broke off from Midas soon after and started a new company. He named it Monore so he could save the large "M" on the Midas store signs, but when he realized “onroe” wouldn't fit where “idas” had been, he dropped the "e" and Monro was born.