Meet Me at NAPA
See why Mark Wilkins’ store remains a destination in Lake City
Earlier this spring, I stopped by Mark Wilkins’ NAPA store in on the east edge of Lake City. To the uninitiated, the constant stream of customers (and never-ending phone calls) could be attributed to a blizzard that was predicted for the next day, but all that activity wasn’t due to the weather.
It’s really just a typical day at one of the busiest stores in town. Some customers drop by to buy oil filters or wiper blades. Some pick up a container of Midwest Flavors/Country Blend Seasoning (a local product) or a big jar of honey from Bixy’s Bees in Lake City. A group of regulars just stop by to visit with their friends. “We stay pretty busy around here,” said Wilkins, 68, a fixture in this community hub at 907 East Main Street. “No two days are ever alike.”
While NAPA stores aren’t as common as they used to be in small towns, Wilkins’ NAPA remains THE place for area farmers, gearheads and other customers to buy the auto parts and other supplies they need. Many appreciate Wilkins’ lifetime of experience.
He grew up in the business in Carroll, where his family ran a NAPA store. Wilkins studied auto mechanics at Iowa Lakes Community College before his family helped him get started with his own store (formerly Clark Oil & Supply in Lake City) in 1978.
Located on the south side of Highway 175 at the east edge of Lake City, this building had housed various businesses through the years, including local contractor Short Johnson’s construction equipment. Today, Wilkins’ NAPA is not only a thriving business, but a mini “museum” of local history. Wilkins still has a thick stack of the store’s hand-written receipts from 40+ years ago, including receipts for Morrow’s Standard, which is still in business along Main Street in Lake City.
NAPA has seen plenty of changes through the years, including computerized inventory systems. “Computers started becoming part of the business by the mid-1980s,” Wilkins said. “We called ours ‘The Blue Goose.’ It seemed pretty powerful at the time, but not by today’s standards.”
Digital payments have also become an important part of the business in the past decade, as more customers use credit cards and debit cards. Don’t expect to pay with an app like Venmo, though. Cash and checks are fine.
Loyal customers also appreciate the store’s monthly billing, including the bit of personality that Wilkins adds each time. Bills typically include a one-liner of Wilkins’ choosing, with the words printed in a different color each month. “People sometimes say, ‘Normal NAPA stores don’t do that.’ Well, you’re in Lake City,” Wilkins said.
Providing service beyond the sale
While the local NAPA has a long history in Lake City, the company’s history dates back almost a century. In 1925, a group of independent auto parts sellers met in Detroit to form the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA).
Today, NAPA-branded stores like Wilkins’ Auto Parts continue to serve do-it-yourselfers and everyday drivers with high-quality parts and supplies to keep their vehicles running safely and efficiently. Some customers need a new battery or brake calipers for their vehicle. Others stop by for new wiper blades. “We install a lot of wiper blades,” Wilkins added.
Some people think they’ll save a lot of money by purchasing auto parts from online retailers like Amazon.com. It’s not uncommon for them to end up at NAPA, however, when they order the wrong parts.
Whether customers have a car, truck, tractor or race car, NAPA is ready to help. “We’ve worked with Dave Smith and his brothers from the beginning,” said Wilkins, speaking of the Smith Racing team from Lake City. “It has been great to see them do so well.”
While many customers have done business with Wilkins for years, he and his employees continue to see new faces every week. The team includes Rick Breeden and Lonnie Heuton, who help Wilkins keep the store open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wilkins usually arrives at the store before 7 a.m. and stays until 6 p.m., with no leisurely lunches. “Oh sure, I have downtown at work,” Wilkins said. “It’s just 30 seconds at a time.”
The end of the work day offers a bit of time to wind down and connect with friends. Many of the guys in the area, from farmers to volunteer fire fighters to retirees, stand around the counter at NAPA and catch up on the news.
In years past, some of these guys also gathered at NAPA to enjoy Wilkins’ latest culinary creations. An adventurous cook, Wilkins would freeze leftovers from his family’s meals or meals served during meeting nights when he was a member of the Lake City Fire Department (LCFD). When he had saved enough meat, vegetables, pasta and more, Wilkins would mix up the ingredients to make a soup or casserole.
Along the way, Wilkins also expanded his repertoire to include competition cooking in the Dell Blair Memorial Chili Cookoff at the Fall Festival at Lake City’s historic town square. He and some LCFD volunteers won top honors with their hearty Backdraft Chili in years past.
Recalling friendships, weather proverbs and more
Serving others remains important to Wilkins, whose store is interconnected with the community. The handwriting is on the wall—literally. Look at the sloped ceiling on the west side of the store, and you’ll see notes that record customers’ orders. Other statements written in black marker denote “Last Snow 05-02-2013, 6.25 inches,” and “Doc Snow.”
Some of the names connected with these notations are current NAPA customers. Other names bring back memories of those who’ve passed away, like Donald “Doc” Mastin, a long-time Lake City resident who was known for all his weather proverbs. You might also notice the wooden stick with the name “Ed” engraved, which is displayed behind the counter. It was created to honor Ed Hirschberg of Lohrville, who enjoyed coming to NAPA to visit.
“Ed was a talker,” Wilkins said. “One day he brought in a 3-foot-long stick of freshly-cut cedar to show me. It ended up sitting in the corner here for a few years. After Ed passed away, we decided to have the Blair boys at the woodworking shop in Lake City make this.”
The friendships he’s made through NAPA are meaningful to Wilkins, who is preparing to retire and transfer the business to a new owner. He looks forward to spending more time with his family (including a new granddaughter) at his family’s cabin in northern Minnesota. That doesn’t mean that leaving a lifetime of memories at his store will be easy.
“I like what I do and enjoy being around people. It will be an emotional day when I close the door for the last time.”
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