About

Antioch Auto Parts - NAPA

About Antioch Auto Parts - NAPA

Antioch Auto Parts – NAPA is a proud member of the NAPA Auto Parts network, while remaining solely owned and operated by the Sexton family of Antioch, IL since 1963. Our longevity comes from doing things the right way—starting with our people. Our parts specialists bring years of real‑world experience to the counter; this isn’t a place where knowledge comes from a short crash course. They’re the best because they’ve earned it through time, training, and dedication.

And on the rare occasion we don’t have exactly what you need in stock, we can typically get it for you within 24 hours. Add to that our machine shop, which provides same‑day service in most cases, and it’s clear why customers choose us. We’re all about bigger selection, better availability, and less time spent waiting or searching—so you can get the right parts and get back to work faster.

50 Years and Going Strong

In the spring of 1963, Mike Sexton of Crystal Lake, Illinois, was looking to make a career change and decided that a NAPA auto parts store would dovetail nicely with his love of cars. Unfortunately, both Crystal Lake and McHenry were already served by existing stores, so his search brought him to Antioch, where the owner of the smallest NAPA store in Illinois was looking to sell.

On Sunday, July 28 (Mike's birthday!), Mike opened Sexton Automotive with his brother Tom and two employees. Selling NAPA auto parts and top-level speed parts of the day, the company grew quickly. Big-name drag racers would stop in when in the area to race at Union Grove; in fact, Don Garlits once paid a visit!

In early 1968, the company split, with Tom taking the performance side of the operation and the Sexton Automotive name back to Crystal Lake, where he was successful for several decades. Mike renamed his half of the company Antioch Auto Parts and continued to sell NAPA auto parts in the same location on Route 59 near Route 173.

By 1978, it became clear that the company's growth would necessitate a new, larger facility. Construction began on an all-new facility at Antioch Auto Parts' current address, which opened for business in early 1979.

Continued growth of the company began to reach the limits of even that larger facility, and in late 2007, a further expansion of the existing building began. By mid-2008, this 5,500-square-foot addition increased the building’s footprint by 150 percent.

From those humble beginnings, today Antioch Auto Parts-NAPA is one of the top five single-store NAPA auto parts operations in the world. We employ nearly 50 people and dispatch 24 delivery vehicles daily, servicing wholesale customers within a 15-mile radius. Our mission is the same as it was then: to give you the best customer service, backed by the area's leading inventory.



Thanks to all of our customers and our current and past employees for helping us become what we are today.