If you've lived in Sonoma County for any amount of time and ever needed an appliance part, you've probably been to APE, Appliance Parts Equipment on Petaluma Hill Road. After 50 years in business, they're closing their doors. And honestly, it hits hard.
We stopped by to pay our respects this week. Cecil Perkins started APE back in the mid-'70s and built it into the go-to spot for appliance parts in the county. Roger Briggs carried that tradition forward for years. And most recently, Dylan kept it going. Same old-school service where you could walk in, describe what was broken, and walk out with the right part. No guessing. No ordering the wrong thing off the internet. Just people who knew appliances, helping other people fix theirs.
APE Appliance Parts Equipment, Petaluma Hill Road. 50 years serving Sonoma County.
What This Means for Sonoma County
APE was one of the last local spots where a homeowner, a landlord, or a property manager could walk in and get a genuine appliance part the same day. Refrigerator water filters. Dryer belts. Range igniters. Washer hoses. The stuff that keeps households running. And the kind of stuff that's getting harder to find locally.
When we posted about it on Facebook, the response was overwhelming. Hundreds of comments. People sharing stories about Cecil, about Roger, about walking in with a broken part in their hand and walking out ten minutes later with the replacement. That's the kind of service you don't get from a website with a search bar and a 5-day shipping window.
Kelly's Is Growing Our Parts Department
We've been in the appliance business since 1974, the same era Cecil started APE. For decades we've worked side by side, us on the repair side, them on the parts counter. Now that APE is closing, we're expanding our parts department to help fill the gap.
Here's what that looks like:
- OEM parts for every major brand. We source genuine manufacturer parts, not generic knockoffs. Samsung, Sub-Zero, GE, Whirlpool, LG, KitchenAid, and more.
- We verify compatibility before you buy. Give us your model number and we'll cross-reference it to make sure you're getting the right part the first time.
- Call us or use the online form. You can call (707) 664-9702 or submit a parts request online. We'll call you back within one business day with pricing and availability.
- Pick up in Cotati or have it shipped. Whatever works for you.
Not Sure What's Wrong? We Can Help with That Too.
One of the best things about APE was that you could describe a symptom and they'd help you figure out the part. We do the same thing, and we've added a way to do it remotely.
Our virtual service call is a $40, 15-minute video session where one of our technicians looks at your appliance over video and helps diagnose the issue. It's a smart move before ordering parts, especially if you're not 100% sure what's failing. Know what you need before you spend.
Small Businesses Looking Out for Each Other
APE closing is a loss for this community. There's no sugarcoating that. Cecil and Roger built something that mattered to a lot of people, and the response we've seen online proves it. Hundreds of folks sharing memories and saying thanks. That's 50 years of showing up and doing right by people.
We can't replace APE. But we can make sure Sonoma County still has a local place to get genuine appliance parts from people who know what they're talking about. That's what we're here for. We've been doing this for over 50 years ourselves, and we're not going anywhere.
If you need to reach APE for any reason, they'll still be checking in occasionally. Correspondence or payments can be sent to: Appliance Parts Equipment, P.O. Box 326, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
Need a part? Tell us what you need or call us at (707) 664-9702. We've got you covered.
