FRANKLIN—The new O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Franklin could open by December.

“If it’s not in the fourth quarter of this year, it will be in first quarter of next year,” said Mark Merz, director of external reporting and investor relations.

Construction could begin within a month on the 6,800-square-foot store at Sachs Avenue and Amory Drive between Mike Duman Chevrolet and Integrated Plastics. The stores typically hire between six and seven or 12 and 13, depending on size. Applications will be taken online at www.oreillyauto.com. Franklin will not show up as an existing store, but applicants can type in Franklin.

The Franklin Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, will discuss a variance on the city’s sign ordinance for the store.

O’Reilly Auto Parts in March purchased the property for $375,000 from Blake Blythe, owner of Blake Ford Mercury in Franklin, according to a real estate transfer at Southampton County Courthouse.

The chain operates in 38 states, with a total of 3,570 stores and 23 distribution centers, thus ranking it in the top three auto parts distributors in the nation.