ANSONIA – The former Rite Aid pharmacy in the Ansonia Shopping Center is set to be converted into an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, according to documents on file with the city.
Zoning officials issued a permit July 1 to allow the building at 404 Main St. to be refurbished for the auto parts retailer, which has more than 6,000 locations across the country and about 40 in Connecticut.
According to a statement of use on file at city hall, the store will employ between five and eight people with open hours from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. An opening date is not included in the files.
Javier Varas, chief of staff for Mayor Frank Tyszka, said city officials are excited to see O’Reilly join other incoming businesses at the shopping center, including Key Food and a soon-to-be-expanded HomeGoods store.
“We’re obviously very excited to see the Ansonia Shopping Center begin to re-fill up with stores again,” Varas said. “We think that these are great additions to the community, and we’re excited to see what more businesses come. Along with Key Foods, the expansion of HomeGoods, it seems like that shopping center is coming out really, really nice.”
The parking layout surrounding the building will remain unchanged, according to a site plan.
The plaza has made steady progress toward renovation since it was purchased in May for $8.4 million by two companies, Zelco Properties & Development and The Grossman Companies. City officials also issued two demolition permits in recent months, which will allow the interiors of the former Big Y and Bob’s Stores to be stripped and renovated. Those stores have been unoccupied since 2019 and 2024.
Key Food and HomeGoods will go into the stores currently being demolished, while Marshall’s will remain in its current spot as a standalone store.
Asher Zelson, a spokesman for Zelco, declined comment for this story. Zelson previously said in May that the company is in negotiations with four possible tenants throughout the shopping center.
O’Reilly’s arrival was first reported Aug. 1 by The Connecticut Scoop, which said construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
Auto Parts Industry Has Grown In Recent Years
O’Reilly’s entrance comes as the auto parts retails industry has steadily grown since a dip at the start of the COVID pandemic. Between October 2020 and May 2026, the most recent month for which federal data is available, the industry grew from $8 billion to $11.7 billion in monthly sales. O’Reilly’s sales grew by about 8 percent between 2024 and 2025, according to company reports.
According to an analysis by Deloitte’s consulting arm, the industry is currently changing due to the rise of electric vehicles, rising income inequality, and new technology being installed in cars. Customers now have more individual preferences and needs than before, the analysis says.
“Forces such as income inequality, the rising popularity of electric vehicles, technology, and new cultural values appear to be splintering the market into different consumer segments each with their own distinct values, identities, and purchasing behaviors,” the analysis says. “The once dominant bell curve of the ‘average’ consumer is giving way to a polycentric world that includes classic car restorers, EV enthusiasts, off-road adventurers, fleets, and others demanding tailored solutions.”