ALAMEDA — Lee Auto Supply, a shop on Park Street that for decades provided amateur and professional mechanics with spark plugs, brake pads and whatever else needed to keep cars on the road, has closed. The store’s last day was Saturday.

“It’s the end of an era,” said owner Duane Watson, who bought the business from his father in 1986.

Watson is retiring, a decision he made partly because the property that houses his store at 1525 Park St. has been sold.

He also said Alameda’s downtown has changed over the years and it’s time to move on, plus the rent will likely go up under the new ownership, which will limit his options.

Just how much times have changed is on view in a rear storage room: Still tacked to wooden rafters are handwritten cards that were labels for storing gaskets and others engine parts. One label goes back to 1937. Others are from the 1950s.

When it closed, the store had five employees, down from 11 during its peak, when Park Street’s auto row was thriving. Employee John Rossillon, who has worked at the shop since 1994, plans to retire.

Auto parts and accessories have been sold at the spot since 1928, when customers also could pick up sporting goods and hardware supplies.

Watson’s family have been involved in the business for about 60 years: His father bought it from his aunt, who also owned two other auto parts stores in Oakland.

“I was just a crumb snatcher when she bought it,” said Watson, who added that some of his earlier memories are working for his aunt as a kid, sweeping floors.

There’s some good news: Fink’s Automative, on Times Way just behind Lee Auto Supply, will remain open.

Rossillon said he is sorry to see such a longtime business closing, especially after working there more than 20 years. But he also is looking forward to some time off.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said.