Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tyler, Hannah, Hayden and Jak Kuhl at NAPA Kuhl Auto Parts.
Tyler and Hannah Kuhl from the Williamette Valley area in Oregon have purchased the NAPA stores in Colfax and Pullman from Terry and Tricia Harwood.
The Harwoods had operated the Colfax NAPA since 1999, and the Pullman NAPA since 2008.
The Kuhls moved to Colfax in mid March and began working with the Harwoods at the two stores March 19. The official sale date for the stores was April 1.
April 1 was the same date in 1999 when the Harwoods started business here; the Pullman location sale was also completed on April 1.
This is the Kuhl’s first venture as business owners. They will run the stores as Kuhl Auto Parts.
“It’s sink or swim,” Tyler said.
Tyler worked for a transportation logistics company in Oregon, and Hannah was a “domestic engineer” taking care of the kids, cows and chickens. Tyler grew up around parts, trucks and maintenance; it is what he has always done in one facet or another.
He and Hannah had attended colleges in Spokane and Cheney and knew they wanted to raise their family back in the area. He contacted the NAPA distribution center in Spokane and through them connected with the Harwoods last fall.
“NAPA’s always been something I’ve wanted to do,” he said.
The Kuhls said the more they researched Colfax, the more they liked it.
“The people are just genuine and friendly,” Kuhl said. Along the way they were supported by family and the community. When it came to the stores changing hands, the employees made it easy.
“We couldn’t have done it without Terry and Tricia,” Tyler commented.
The Kuhls say they are starting to feel like they have their feet under them, even though they are aware it is going to feel like they are drinking out of a fire hose for a while yet.
Hannah works on the books, marketing and advertising for the business. She is balancing going back to work while continuing to wear “mom” hat for son Jak, 8, and daughter Hayden, 3.
Tyler Kuhl is putting in 12 hour days, six or seven days a week.
According to Hannah, Jak is enjoying the new environment with a great teacher at school, making friends and being involved in sports. Hayden comes to work with them and greets people who come to the stores. Jak also likes tractors and is hoping to find an area farmer to give him a ride on a combine.
The Kuhls are learning customers’ names and faces. Tyler noted each store has its own personality and clientele. Pullman provides for namely service shops, while Colfax is a broader balance between ag, industrial, service shops and do-it-yourself customers.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
Reader Comments(0)