A luxury car dealership has closed but is already planning to reopen as a traditional car brand after completing a major deal.
The Alabama-based car dealer recently sold Maserati, Fiat and Alfa Romeo before its sudden closure.
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Benchmark Automotive is selling the site to a Tennessee-based company that already acquired another local dealership for $40 million in May, Alabama Local News reported.
The Benchmark Automotive location opened in 2017.
A Subaru franchise will move to the site where Benchmark Automotive was based, the Birmingham Business Journal reported.
“We regret that the Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands are leaving our Irondale Auto Mall,” Irondale Mayor James D. Stewart said in a prepared statement.
“But we are pleased to welcome the Hallmark Group and Subaru.”
Benchmark Automotive also sold another dealership it owned to a Georgia-based automotive group for $6.7 million in 2020.
“With our natural resources, the Cahaba River and Ruffner Mountain, Irondale is the perfect choice to market the Subaru brand to its target audience of outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and families,” added Stewart.
NEW YORK
The Alabama-based dealership isn’t the only one seeing an end and a new beginning.
A popular car dealership has abruptly and permanently closed its doors after 90 years in business.
The car sales center was located in Hortonville, New York.
Loyal Buddenhagen customers stressed that it was “an icon that we will miss very much.”
The company was founded by Anthony Buddenhagen and was associated with Ford for 50 years.
The dealership ended its relationship with Ford just one year before announcing its closure.
Anthony’s children bought the business in 1962.
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- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealer. Dealers may offer you a better interest rate if they compete with an outside bank.
- 4. Test drive the car: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase is worth thousands of dollars – drivers should make sure they are happy with the car’s drive, steering feel and comfort before taking it off the road.
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when it comes to negotiating the price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
From there it was later purchased in 1990 by her nephew Hal and his friend Tom Dnistrain.
Hal continued to run the business after Tom sadly passed away shortly after taking over the company from Leukemia.
After the news became known, fans of the car dealership shared their shock and dismay on social media.
“A community icon who will be greatly missed,” wrote one customer on Facebook.
“Sad that there was no other family member to carry on. We will surely miss her dedication,” added another.
While many were devastated by the closure, one person wished Hal well and said, “Enjoy your retirement.”
The car salesman clearly had a positive and lasting impact on his community, which is surely grateful for the memories created between the time he took over the business and its demise.
