Fagen Auto Parts is looking to leave Danville. Fagen president Ken Salomon says in the past numerous parties have been interested in the Fagen property northwest of Vermilion of Liberty, and he was not interested. But finally, last year, some serious talks began; making Salomon think it over a bit.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: These guys convinced me otherwise, and it’s been in the works for a while. It was early last summer, late spring maybe, when we started talking. Things were still a little shakey, coming out of the COVID. I just felt like it was the right time.
Salomon’s grandfather began Fagen Auto Parts in Danville in 1929, and for several decades they were on the northwest corner of South and Hazel Streets. But eventually, it became time to move.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Up until the late 60’s, when urban renewal took over the downtown area, and we relocated up here. So we’ve been at this location over 50 years now.
Fagen’s presence at the current location for half a century has lots of memories. Such as in 1979, when they sponsored that hero of ecology “Chicken Man” on D102; and we were reminded every day that the location was “North Vermilion and Liberty Lane, at the lights.”
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I vaguely remember that. I was away at school at the time, but I kind of remember that. And I haven’t heard that name, you know, since.
Salomon says there is an established closing date for the sale.
Meanwhile, right now, the new owners will need to okay things with the city. The packet for the Thursday, April 7th Danville Area Planning and Zoning Commission meeting mentions plans for both a coffee shop and an oil change facility where Fagen currently resides. As for Salomon, he says Fagan will be combining inventory from their current store with the one they’ve had in Champaign for over 20 years. And Salomon says, don’t worry; they will maintain all communications with Danville customers.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: We’ll be able to take care of any kind of warranty or service issues. We used to sell scooters and four wheelers and dirt bikes out of this location here in Danville. In Champaign, we kind of split it up. So there’s a Fagen’s scooters store which sells just scooters exclusively. And our Fagen truck is both truck accessories; and we sell the dirt bikes and four wheelers.
The Champaign location is on Bloomington Road just off Prospect, right by the Home Depot.
