By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
FLORENCE—A Route 130 car dealership that has sold new and used cars in the area for decades closed its doors earlier this month, leaving approximately 20 employees jobless.
The business, which has been in operation since the 1920s, had come under a significant amount of financial stress due to low sales, said Brandow Chevrolet Sales Manager James Lynch, who was among those laid off.
“Basically they sold the franchise because of the financial stress,” said Mr. Lynch on Friday.
He said the store closed its doors after signing a termination letter with Chevrolet, which is part of the General Motors Corp.
Mr. Lynch attributed the franchise closing to poor sales, bolstered by a weak economy and high gasoline prices and said that back in February 2000, when Brandow acquired the franchise, they were selling upwards of 110-120 vehicles a month.
As the dealership trimmed its workforce back slowly, Mr. Lynch said the dealership did everything it could to stay in the black.
“Back in April we were being briefed a little about the financial hardship, and they were certainly cutting expenses, doing everything they could to make it work,” he added.
Toward the end of the dealership’s run, sales were down to approximately 45 to 50 vehicle sales a month.
Mr. Lynch acknowledged that sports utility vehicles weren’t selling as prolifically as they once were, attributing that directly to the gasoline’s increasing cost.
“The price of gasoline was another hassle you had to deal with, no matter what kind of car you were buying,” said Mr. Lynch.
As for the future of the dealership, Mr. Lynch thinks that it will open up under a different name and just sell used cars.
Fortunate to find work at Lucas Chevrolet in Lumberton, Mr. Lynch said he is now doing the same job duties that he had in Florence.
Mr. Lynch said that two of his former car salesman co-workers, have since found work with other dealerships in Pennsylvania.
Calls to the number listed for Brandow Chevrolet went unanswered.