ADVANCE AUTO PARTS (AAP)

Headquarters: Roanoke, Va.

Stores: 3,200 retail

Employees: 44,000

Sales: $4.8 billion in 2007

Profile: Second-largest automotive aftermarket retailer in the United States, based on sales and store count.

Minnesota connection: Four of the eight members of the executive committee have ties to Richfield-based Best Buy, including CEO Darren Jackson.

Coming soon: A regional headquarters, likely in Bloomington, where Jackson and other former Best Buy execs will be based. In the next four to six months, 100 jobs will be added in merchandising and operations.