Bill Heard Enterprises Folding Dealerships Nationwide
Published: September 24, 2008
One of the nation's largest car dealerships has closed sales operations, possibly forever.
Bill Heard Enterprises Inc., which operates the Bill Heard Chevrolet dealership in Plant City, closed its sales operation there this week, said Paul Baker, executive manager of the dealership.
"It's a shame," Baker said, adding that he thought the era of gigantic dealerships is over. The dealership traces its roots to 1919, just 11 years after Henry Ford first produced the Model T automobile.
Baker declined to elaborate on reasons for the closing, other than to cite financial pressures. He said he doubted the operation would operate under new ownership. "Nobody has the guts to have a big dealership anymore," he said.
The dealership will "take care of any customer's car and live up to any obligations we have as far as sales," he said, "but we closed the sales operation."
Based in Columbus, Ga., Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. operates 13 dealerships nationwide. They all will close, Baker said.
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