Despite trends, car dealership expands
09/05/2008, 11:02 am
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By Nancy Ghiotto
and Gatehouse News Service
nghiotto@djpeotone.com
Even as news broke Thursday that Chrysler LLC fared the worst in August of all major automakers, a local Chrysler dealership has expanded and is looking forward to continued growth.
James and Pearl Bult, of Monee, and Bill VanRamshorst, of Beecher, owners of Pearl Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Peotone recently opened a sparkling new dealership at the southeast corner of Illinois Route 50 and Wilmington-Peotone Road.
The 22,000-square-foot facility cost about $5 million a major investment any time, but especially during a tight economy that has hit Detroit automakers particularly hard.
The privately owned, Detroit-based automaker nearly fell to No. 6 in the United States in sales in August, selling 110,235 vehicles, down nearly 35 percent compared with August 2007.
Chrysler was the shakiest of the Detroit Three, outsold by Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. and nearly passed by Nissan Motor Co., the only major automaker to gain compared with last year.
"The industry is changing rapidly in terms of what vehicles and features customers want and the leasing and financing options available to them," Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president, said in a news release.
But the Pearl Chrysler owners are optimistic about the future. They employ 19 full and part time employees and could add more, "if the demand is needed," said VanRamshorst, the dealership's general manager.
Yet, VanRamshorst acknowledged, "it's been a challenging year even with good exposure."
However, business has been steadily improving, he said. In fact, the business outgrew its former location at West Corning Avenue and Railroad Street in Peotone, which necessitated the move.
The new dealership boasts of a showroom with a larger area vehicle displays, offices and a expanded service area. Right now, a 2009 Dodge Challenger taking the lone spotlight in a space that has room for a half dozen more models.
The facility has 10 service bay areas and a car wash for customers. The dealership also displays about 150 new and used vehicles in the outdoor lot.
"For now, it's really a good feeling that after all our hard work and getting all the bugs out we can all just enjoy being here," Pearl said.
Pearl Bult said the old location would either sold or rented.
But even as the trio begins to fill its showroom with shiny new models, Chrysler announced it may further reduce production at its Belvidere plant, which recently downsized from three shifts to two, with a reduction of nearly 1,000 employees. The plant may now operate just one shift.
VanRamshorst isn't worried that reduced production will cut into his supply.
"If we need something dealers are swapping with each other," he said