About
About Us
Seattle Automotive Distributing, Inc. has been locally owned and operated since 1983. What started as a small Northwest parts distributor has grown into a trusted partner for independent repair shops, fleets, and dealerships across the Puget Sound.
With five warehouse locations in Tacoma, Lynnwood, Auburn, Bremerton, and Bellingham — and a fleet of 70 delivery vehicles — our 85 dedicated team members work hard every day to keep our customers stocked, supported, and on schedule.
We carry an extensive selection of Original Equipment and high-quality aftermarket parts, keeping our inventory up to date with the latest products from leading manufacturers. Our focus is simple: provide reliable parts and dependable service that help our customers reduce comebacks, minimize downtime, and build confidence with every repair.
At Seattle Automotive, we’re proud to be part of the Northwest automotive community — and even prouder to support the people who keep it running.
Seattle Automotive Distributing, Inc. — Our Mission
At Seattle Automotive, our mission is simple — to be the go-to source for quality automotive parts and reliable service for repair shops, fleets, and dealerships throughout the Northwest.
We take pride in helping our customers get the job done right. That means:
- Supporting our team members with a positive, respectful, and rewarding place to work.
- Building lasting relationships with customers by listening, understanding, and showing up when they need us.
- Offering quality parts and practical programs that make doing business easier.
- Doing what’s right, following fair business practices and standing behind our word.
As we grow, we stay true to what got us here — service, quality, and genuine care for the people we work with every day.
Seattle Automotive proudly belongs to:
- Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA)
- Washington Automotive Wholesalers Association (WAWA)
- Association of Washington Business (AWB)
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
- Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
- Federated Group
The Story of Seattle Automotive Distributing, Inc.
Seattle Automotive Distributing began with a simple idea: serve local repair shops with honesty, reliability, and genuine care.
Our story starts downtown on 7th and Westlake Avenue — “in the afternoon shadow of the Westin Towers.” Back then, that stretch of Seattle was alive with the hum of traffic, the clang of tools, and the scent of motor oil. It was here that Paul TeGantvoort, a seasoned parts manager from local GM dealerships, decided to build something of his own.
The early days were humble. We rented space inside the old Huletz Auto Electric building for $4,000 a month. Our shelves carried trusted names — AC Delco, Bendix, FelPro, A1-Cardone, Federal Mogul/Sealed Power — and our customers were the lifeblood of the industry: independent repair shops, dealerships, fleets, and jobbers who kept Seattle moving.
Then came 1985. The property sold, rent tripled overnight, and we suddenly needed a new home. Paul and his wife Karen found an old dry-cleaning and laundry building in Seattle’s Chinatown. It wasn’t much to look at, but it had potential. With grit, paint, sweat, and a few good friends, they spent four months gutting and rebuilding it — shelving, lighting, wiring, everything — until it felt like home. That same building still stands today, later transformed into a family-run nail salon supply shop in 2018.
By 1989, Seattle Automotive was ready to grow again. Paul purchased the old Gilchrist’s Paint Shop building in Tacoma and began adding on — more space, more inventory, more people, more reach. Six years later, we opened in Everett/Lynnwood, and soon after came Olympia, Auburn, Bremerton, and Bellingham. The Auburn warehouse eventually became our main distribution center — the heart of our operations and home to our offices and call center.
In April 2020, at the height of the COVID, we faced one of the most difficult chapters in our company’s story. When we lost the lease on our Olympia location, it forced quick adjustments to deliveries, routes, and personnel. Several of our long-time employees also chose to retire during that period — a bittersweet moment, as we said goodbye to some of the most dedicated people we’ve ever worked with.
Despite the uncertainty of those months, our team came together with determination and creativity. Customers in the Olympia area were seamlessly transitioned to service from the Tacoma warehouse, and our commitment to reliability never wavered. What could have been a setback became another reminder of what has always defined Seattle Automotive — resilience, teamwork, and loyalty to the people we serve.
Through the decades, one thing has never changed: our people. Many of our employees have been with us for more than 10 years, a few even longer. Others have grown their careers here over 6 years or more. Together, we’ve built something rare — a company where hard work meets laughter, and where customers become friends.
We’ve also made time to celebrate. Our Annual Open Houses have become legendary — good food, hot rods, great prizes, and a chance to see the newest products up close. We’ve shared memories at Seafair Hydroplane Races, the Museum of Flight, the LeMay Museum, NHRA races, company picnics, and even first-class AC Delco–sponsored trips to incredible destinations.
From our modest start “in the shadow of the Westin Towers” to a family of warehouses spanning Western Washington, Seattle Automotive Distributing has always been about more than parts. It’s about people — the employees who show up every day ready to help, the customers who trust us with their business, and the communities that have supported us through every turn of the road.