800 dealerships prepare to close

By at 8 June, 2009, 6:36 pm

In just over 24 hours you will no longer be able to buy a new Chrysler at certain Bay Area dealerships. Tomorrow is the deadline for a handful of local dealers who were told they would have to shut down. The company claims that the dealerships are not making enough money to stay open. At the St. Pete Jeep Chrysler, employees are winding down – making their final sales before their final day in business. It’s a bittersweet time because the dealership has been around for about 24 years. It’s just one of about 800 dealerships across the country that was ordered by the automaker to stop selling the brand by June 9. “I guess the toughest part is just the realization that in another, basically, 24 hours from now – we’ll no longer be a new car dealer after 24 years. That’s

probably the toughest part,” said St. Pete Chrysler-Jeep Owner William Douglas. He says they will remain in business as a used car dealership. The service center will also remain open and potentially pick up another franchise in the future. Douglas says he has no plans to lay off any employees at this time. However, he says it’s still a difficult time and it’s going to be a challenge to figure out what’s next. In the short-term, Douglas is focusing on selling all of the cars that remain on his lot. Some customers claim they’ve received some pretty decent deals because of the closure. But it all ends tomorrow – when a number of car dealerships all over the country will either change direction or shut down altogether.  

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800 dealerships prepare to close

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