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Parts Town
Parts Town family office manages the Snower family fortune from Addison, IL, investing across industrial, real estate, and growth equity.
Parts Town
Parts Town was founded in 1987 by Steve Snower as a commercial foodservice replacement parts distributor. After growing the company to over $1B in revenue and selling a majority stake to private equity, Snower and key executives including Bob Pinkerton established the Parts Town family office in 2015 to manage the family's wealth outside the core business. The family office invests across multiple asset classes including direct equity in industrial and technology firms, real estate, and growth-stage venture capital. It has taken positions in companies such as Zume (per TechCrunch, 2019) and has made real estate investments in the Chicago metropolitan area. Geographic focus is primarily North America, with selective exposure to Europe. Deployment pace and team size are not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains close ties to the original Parts Town distribution business, which continues to operate as a separate entity. No additional offices beyond the Addison, IL headquarters have been confirmed. In 2023, the family office was reported to have increased its real estate holdings in the Midwest (public record). A structural differentiator is the family office's deep operational DNA from the core distribution business, allowing it to evaluate industrial and supply-chain investments with proprietary insight. The firm does not operate as a multi-family office or raise external capital, remaining wholly dedicated to the Snower family's assets.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Addison
Corporate office
Addison, IL, United States
Principals
Steve Snower
Founder & CEO
Bob Pinkerton
Principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Parts Town?
Steve Snower, founder of the original Parts Town business, oversees the family office's investment strategy. Bob Pinkerton, a long-time executive from the distribution company, also serves as a principal (public record).
How does Parts Town source deal flow?
The firm leverages its operational network in commercial distribution, logistics, and industrial technology to source proprietary direct investments. It also participates in growth-equity rounds alongside established venture firms (per public record).
Is Parts Town structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
It is structured as a single family office managing the Snower family's assets. It does not raise external capital from institutions or high-net-worth individuals (public record).
Does Parts Town participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Parts Town primarily makes direct equity investments and real estate acquisitions. There is no public evidence of significant fund-of-funds or limited-partner commitments to external private equity or venture funds (public record).
What investment stages does Parts Town typically target?
The firm targets growth-stage and later-stage direct investments, along with real estate acquisitions. It does not typically engage in seed or early-stage venture (public record).
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth originates from the Parts Town commercial foodservice parts distribution business, founded by Steve Snower in 1987. The company grew to over $1 billion in revenue before a majority stake was sold to private equity (public record).
Does Parts Town maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The Snower family has a private foundation, the Snower Family Foundation, which is separate from the family office's investment activities. It focuses on education and community development (public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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