Northwest Motorsports abruptly closes in Pasco and goes out of business statewide

Jan. 25—Northwest Motorsports permanently closed its locations in Pasco and elsewhere this week.

The move affected 142 workers in Pasco, Lynnwood, Marysville, Puyallup and Spokane Valley, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice released by the Washington state Employment Security Department.

Northwest Motorsports blamed “today’s pre-owned vehicle market conditions” for the decision to close on its website.

It directed customers to visit nwmsrocks.com, call 253-604-7441 or email [email protected] with questions or concerns.

The company gained prominence through a media campaign that starred Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer Jay Buhner.

Northwest Motorsports occupied a highly visible perch at 816 N. 28th Ave., overlooking Highway 395 north of the blue bridge in Pasco.

Franklin County property records indicate it is owned by the company’s parent, RFJ Auto Partners/Sonic, based in Charlotte, N.C.

It was not immediately clear what will happen on five-acre property but its visibility ensures it won’t stay vacant long: More than 50,000 vehicles pass by on the highway each day.

There were no active listings indicating it is for sale or lease on LoopNet, a commercial listing service, on Thursday.

(c)2024 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.