Historic Dodge Dealership Loses Franchise
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | June 10, 2009
Tator's Dodge, soon to be known as Tator's Garage, opened in 1914.
Credit: Charles Tator
Yesterday a bankruptcy judge approved Chrysler's plan to terminate 789 of its 3,200 franchise agreements.
The order, by U.S. Judge Arthur Gonzalez, affected one of the oldest Dodge dealerships in the country, Tator's Dodge in South Salem, N.Y., housed in a barn built in 1872 with a five-bay garage added in 1926.
"Chrysler did shut me down, but we're not going anywhere," says Chuck Tator Jr., who plans to operate an independent repair shop from the historic garage. "It's un-American, what they just did."
In 1914 John and Horace Dodge chose George Tator to open one of their first 25 dealerships. Today his grandson, Chuck, said: "I'm fuming. ... We're their history. You'd think from that point of view that they'd keep us."
The June 9 decision also affected Reed Brothers Dodge, which opened in Rockville, Md., in 1915. "We've been in business longer than Chrysler has been in existence," says Jeanne Gartner, one of Reed's three owner-operators. "That's a pretty poor way to treat dealers who have been loyal for all these years."
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Comments
Submitted by everfriends22 at: November 7, 2009
I think if you have good management skills you do any kind of business
Submitted by John at: November 2, 2009
That's really very sad news that Chrysler is going to terminate dealership with more than 2000 outlets, where these 2000 small businessmen will go?? I think the court didn't noticed this fact. movers new york
Submitted by Smith at: July 4, 2009
That's a pretty poor way to treat dealers who have been loyal for all these years. Online Teaching learning degree | Engineering degree
Submitted by RTTTTed at: June 12, 2009
Loyalty should show rewards. Tator's is well known for Chuck's expertise in all areas of Dodge electronics and performance. Many owners travel 5-8 states to get service from Tator's. If Dodge can't figure it out, then you go to Tator's and he'll get i good as new!
Submitted by Brian at: June 11, 2009
I had a feeling those corporations were soulless. These two dealerships could have been heavily promoted for the sake of company nostalgia. I hope the locals continue to support them.