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| Yemm in Galesburg Avoids Chrysler Cut List |
A local car dealership says it's fortunate to not be included on a recent list of Chrysler dealerships that will be closing their doors because of bankruptcy issues.
Yemm in Galesburg houses a number of different models of cars under its umbrella that includes Chrysler and GM models, two corporations receiving bailout money and who need to restructure under federal guidelines.
Chrysler's plan is to close 789 dealerships, or 25 percent of all of them, in every state except for Alaska. The number of closings includes 44 in Illinois. The closure of the nearly 800 dealerships could put as many as 40-thousand people out of work.
Mark McLaughlin, a sales manager at Yemm who has worked at the dealership for nearly three decades, says the closings of the dealerships is a sad day for the dealers and their families. McLaughlin tells WGIL dodging the Chrysler bullet is just one step in the restructuring process.
"We've got a wonderful facility, we've got a great location, we've got a great bunch of people (and) good owners (that) take care of us. They weren't worried but they're concerned about what could have happened. We've made it through hurdle number one, we still have to hear from GM yet but my personal feeling (is) we're safe on that but, you know, you never know on that."
McLaughlin says there are a lot of great dealerships and people who dedicated their lives to them, and in a month they won't be there. He says he's sad about that and prays for the families affected.
McLaughlin says it's a new way of doing business in this country and things will be different. He attributes Yemms' success to its staff in all departments and its top-notch ownership.
Cavanaugh Motors in Monmouth, which also sells Chryslers, is also not on the list of dealers slated to close. Calls by WGIL news to that dealership for comment were not returned.
The Dodge affiliation for Lakis Ford-Dodge in Galesburg also was not put on the chopping block.
(The Chrysler affiliation remains a part of Yemm in Galesburg. WGIL News Story and Photo by Dominic Fortini.) |
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| 05 14 09 by Newsroom |
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