I n a world where we read about businesses that are started and folded in record numbers and others that cannot weather through tough financial periods, every now and then it’s nice to read about a family business that has prospered and flourished against what is arguably the toughest business sector to succeed in … the car business! Freehold Dodge Ram Subaru is celebrating its 50th anniversary June 14.
While the term “car business” for some conjures up that image of the salesperson trying to sell you a car at any cost, this family business is anything but that. From humble beginnings back in 1964, Freehold Dodge was founded by the family’s patriarch, Stanley J. Butkus. Even at these early stages, Butkus knew the rigors of what it would take to make this business succeed in the turbulent period that was the 1960s. He poured himself into the business and incessantly worked to differentiate the car-buying experience into a “familial” atmosphere where car buyers would know the owner by his first name and know that they were getting an honest and fair deal. This legacy is a business family mandate that Butkus passed down from generation to generation. Butkus tirelessly worked the floor, engaged customers, participated in the community and was wed to making the car dealership more than just a place to buy cars. He wanted the Butkus name to endure for generations.
This vision was rewarded in 1977 when his son Dave joined the business as a salesman. In 1988, the Butkus family car dealership was growing and embarked on its first major renovation which, in turn, saw the dealership thereby achieve a Five Star Certification. At this period of time, this was among one of the first dealerships in the United States to achieve this accreditation.
The Butkus family was not going to allow an award let them be lulled into a false sense of security, and in December 2000 they embarked on building a 20,000-square-foot stateof the-art facility in Freehold. One year later, they added the Subaru model to the list of brands they sold and Freehold Dodge Ram Subaru was officially formed.
The 50-year legacy that few companies achieve continued to see the family members come and be active in the family business. Today, Christopher Devoy and Jamie D. Butkus are actively involved in the sales department and now begin the journey that their grandfather started almost 50 years earlier. “Family” also extends to other employees such as General Manager Steven Boyce, who celebrates 31 years with the Butkus family at Freehold Dodge Ram Subaru. The legacy of being good to employees, which is why you have such tenured employees, also extends to the community they serve. The Butkus family is philanthropic and civic minded, sponsoring many youth sports, cheerleading squads, and PBA locals. In fact, in 2005 they donated a Dodge Magnum for the Freehold Township Community Police program.
The American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. The Butkus family wants to share their 50th anniversary with you, the community family, by inviting you to join them on June 14 at 299 South St. in Freehold for a fun afternoon with Famous Dave’s BBQ, bounce houses for the kids, and 50th anniversary savings for all. Thunder 106 will also be on site, providing great music and prizes.
For more information about the anniversary party, call 732-677-5112.