Location: Paintsville, Ky.
"I have been the owner for a year, but the dealership has been in my family for decades. My father started it, and after he passed, my brother took it over for a few years. We're very much a family store, with 48 employees total.
In 1981, Chrysler approached my father and asked him, a Ford dealer, if he'd want to open a Chrysler dealership. He opened the dealership on the same premises as the Ford store.
I have a feeling I got the letter from Chrysler because they now don't want a competing dealer selling their cars. I can't explain it any other way, because we were profitable, independent and had the business moving in the right direction.
I'm lucky my Ford store is so strong. I feel for the dealers that didn't have another franchise to fall back on. I hope those guys are fighting and get their pound of flesh from somewhere.
Not one of my employees is going to get laid off. They'll all go to the Ford store, even if I have to pay out of pocket. If you don't have good employees, you don't have a business." - as told to Emily Maltby
NEXT: Claxton Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep
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