Frontier expands holdings, store

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
“I really appreciate all my people here,” said Terry Rich, former owner of Carquest in Newcastle. “They’ve been good and loyal customers.”
That same loyalty moved Rich to transfer ownership of the store the way he did when it was time for him to retire.
He had worked at Carquest for 30 years and owned it for 27 years. When he wanted to retire, talks opened up with Zach Pickle, owner of Frontier Home, Ranch and Hardware, next door to Carquest on South Railroad Avenue, and that went on for a few months.
Then, on Nov. 11, Rich was able to turn over the store to Pickle, as the new owner. He stayed on for a couple of weeks to help Pickle with running the auto parts store, but other help was there as well. The new manager, Ron Isabell, moved from Wheatland to Rozet and plans to move to Newcastle in the future. According to Pickle, Isabell was a Carquest manager in Wheatland, so the transition has been perfect.
“Ron’s been very helpful,” Pickle said, “because he knows how to run the Carquest side of the business. It’s been very seamless without a huge learning curve. Ron makes it like that. He knows how to run it so well.”
Pickle was also very grateful that Rich stayed on for a couple of weeks. He said that Rich was accommodating, educating others on how to run the store well.
“I’m not trying to replace Rich’s business,” Pickle said. He has great respect for the legacy and customer base that Rich has been able to build, he said, and as such, he is keeping the front of the space a Carquest store.
The expansion for Frontier is to give a complete shopping experience for the residents of Newcastle. Two new doorways will be opened up between the two stores in January. Carquest will still be Carquest. About the only thing that will change is the layout and an expansion of parts available. Pickle will also increase tools, fasteners and other goods that will complement the store’s auto parts side. This expansion will allow him to make the Frontier side better as well, he said. Pickle plans to bring in more clothing, especially women’s and children’s wear. He will also develop footwear and household goods. These changes will allow Frontier to carry more goods in a less-cluttered environment. Pickle is hoping to fill the vacuum created when Newcastle’s Shopko went out of business.
“The Carquest side will become more of the tool-oriented side of the business,” Pickle said, “The Frontier side will focus on house goods, clothing, and a lot more.” 
One of the things Pickle was excited about is the opportunity to carry a considerable amount of sporting goods.
Isabell said he is looking forward to all the reconstruction to finish. But he is already pleased to be in Newcastle.
“It’s a nice town,” he said, “with really good people. This move has been a challenge, but I have really been enjoying it.” 
Remodeling is taking place even during open hours, but Isabell is handling it all well. Everyone involved is looking forward to the
end of construction when both sides of the store will be cleaned up. Pickle said he knows it is a little crazy trying to find everything at the moment, but the store will be organized and will fill a much-needed, all-in-one shopping place for Newcastle.
Pickle said that we send too many people
to Gillette or Rapid because we lack many goods here, such as a good selection of clothing and shoes.
“I’m hoping I can do something to help change that,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any reason to shop somewhere else. This town can supply what we all need. I’m just hoping to do my part.”