Moving in stereo ...Car-Fi under new ownership

by Karen E. Culp

SBJ Staff

Planet Car-Fi is staying in business, under new ownership. A Cape Girardeau-based businessman, John Selby, purchased the Springfield car-stereo dealer March 23. Selby also owns Stereo One in Cape Girardeau and a Carbondale, Ill., stereo company. Stereo One has been around since 1980, Selby said.

Selby's purchase included Planet Car Fi's building at 1600 S. Glenstone and its assets. In 1986, when the company started, it was called Car-Fi and was owned by Gary Summers, said Rick Snelson, who developed the Car-Fi concept.

Snelson will return to the store as general manager, and the company will once again be called Car-Fi, he said.

The store was sold to Randy Thomas in 1992, and Thomas was the last owner before Selby, Snelson said. Car-Fi was the first car-stereo store in Springfield.

The Planet Car-Fi store announced a going-out-of-business sale in December, then announced it would stay in business.

Right now, the store is being remodeled to increase its showroom space, and Selby said he anticipates that new employees will be added. The store is also expanding its product selection.

The store has remained open throughout the transition. During the week of April 6, the store's signs were changing to reflect its return to the Car-Fi name.

"The transition has been fairly smooth. John (Selby) is a veteran in this business, and he really knows these product lines," Snelson said.