1901  Arthur Taubman is born in Astoria, New York 1909  George Pepperdine starts the Western Auto Supply Agency, a mail-order service specializing in automotive parts. 1916  Arthur Taubman enlists in the U.S. Navy at the age of 15. 1920  Taubman Stores is incorporated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 1921  Pep Auto Supply, or "Pep Boys," opens in Philadelphia. 1922  Arthur Taubman is discharged from the U.S. Navy and enters the auto supply business with his brother. 1929  The founders of the Pep Boys open Advance Stores, LLC., with two stores in Roanoke and one in Lynchburg, Virginia. 1932  April 29, 1932 — Arthur Taubman purchases Advance Stores and begins his successful drive to build a multi-state chain of auto and home supply stores.