GasBuddy News Article

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24 car dealers in Minnesota are back in business

Minneapolis StarTribune -- Stillwater Motors was down to the last few Buicks on the lot.

But the third-generation General Motors dealership is looking to the future and ready to order -- and hire -- again after GM included it among the 661 dealerships nationwide that it has saved from the chopping block.

The dealership, which has been selling Buicks since 1922, was among the more than 2,000 across the country that GM had said would close as part of its government-backed bankruptcy restructuring to pare down stores and return to profitability.

"It's good news and a victory and we are excited," said general manager Michael Kahn. "It's good for the community, and a lot of customers were happy. Now I can see the glimmer in the employees' eyes. Everybody is excited."

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Submitted Mar 11, 2010 By: Italianman

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alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:2,305 Points:544,500 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:26:25 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse At least GM is making a good move by keeping a long standing dealership in business.
JimTee All-Star Author Tampa Posts:704 Points:754,065 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:10:34 PM Ignore JimTee Report Abuse Good for them. Good luck!
Pete12 Champion Author Albany Posts:1,857 Points:772,680 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:21:12 PM Ignore Pete12 Report Abuse This is excellent news. Now we have to get the Chrysler dealers back.
1Casey Champion Author Albany Posts:1,946 Points:961,400 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:55:55 PM Ignore 1Casey Report Abuse This is great for the dealerships that can come back. But I feel sorry for the dealerships and their employees who have already closed and have no chance of coming back.
filcut Veteran Author Anchorage Posts:442 Points:565,895 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:55:42 PM Ignore filcut Report Abuse That's good for all the employees who are recalled to work.
Jo120 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,344 Points:1,290,075 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:46:16 PM Ignore Jo120 Report Abuse That's good to hear!!!
Bert2010 Sophomore Author Columbus Posts:232 Points:84,030 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:45:59 PM Ignore Bert2010 Report Abuse More dealerships are not going to save GM. Making a quality car that people want to buy is the only thing that will bring them back. And for too many years this is exactly what GM has not done and seems incapable of doing.
ops3 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,229 Points:737,025 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:40:54 PM Ignore ops3 Report Abuse Good!
kettle Rookie Author Yakima Posts:62 Points:1,120,885 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:40:17 PM Ignore kettle Report Abuse I'm glad for the dealership !
snewwee Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,814 Points:979,380 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:36:12 PM Ignore snewwee Report Abuse And they will be selling cars to who?
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,013 Points:506,085 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:35:33 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse About time. Too bad it took so long.
NotTom Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,323 Points:715,215 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:35:33 PM Ignore NotTom Report Abuse good. Let's capitalize on Toyota's issues.
mark1962 Champion Author Albany Posts:1,370 Points:295,595 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:30:23 PM Ignore mark1962 Report Abuse That is great but why did they close in the first place? Economics have only got worse!
LGStas Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:317 Points:178,030 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:23:50 PM Ignore LGStas Report Abuse What about the rest of the U.S.?
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,040 Points:682,545 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:17:43 PM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse We agree; I am glad for the jobs this will create but I am not sure this is the right move for G.M. right now.best of luck to them
4warned Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,058 Points:1,220,385 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:12:52 PM Ignore 4warned Report Abuse I am glad for the jobs this will create but I am not sure this is the right move for G.M. right now.
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,467 Points:892,370 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:12:46 PM Ignore epf Report Abuse More franchise locations will not be good for any auto-maker
mvosevich Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,136 Points:836,980 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:11:09 PM Ignore mvosevich Report Abuse GM has to make better vehicles to survive.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:12,639 Points:2,510,550 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:09:09 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse I agree with DellMan regarding the political moves of this administration.
DellMan Champion Author Omaha Posts:1,917 Points:442,925 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:01:10 PM Ignore DellMan Report Abuse Obama is just trying to help the house members running for reelection by allowing GM to reopen these dealerships.
netman044 Champion Author Texas Posts:3,786 Points:636,110 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:55:31 PM Ignore netman044 Report Abuse Smaller dealers tend to give better service than the super dealerships. That is a large component of brand loyalty.
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,144 Points:786,045 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:54:47 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse So that and a lollypop gets you want? a showroom-full of customers/buyers? Hmmm yes concept, let see how that plays out!
la90042 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,402 Points:505,405 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:53:19 PM Ignore la90042 Report Abuse it never made any sense to cut dealers - I though they paid in morefees than they cost anyway....
starfighter08 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,013 Points:160,125 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:50:56 PM Ignore starfighter08 Report Abuse It's still Government Motors. Probably has more regulations than you can shake a stick at.
signwiz All-Star Author Indiana Posts:995 Points:904,480 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:49:27 PM Ignore signwiz Report Abuse Happy days are nearly here again!
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,982 Points:864,395 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:44:26 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse Good for them
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:1,057 Points:808,980 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:42:51 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse Yipee, they are coming back:)
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,165 Points:1,692,170 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:37:57 PM Ignore WilW Report Abuse Buick's current line, though limited in number, is quite appealing. Much more so than what Chrysler is currently offering (ugh!).
brus282 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,611 Points:939,350 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:33:52 PM Ignore brus282 Report Abuse good for the one's reinstated, bad for those left out, how were these selected?
lembs All-Star Author San Francisco Posts:722 Points:633,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:31:30 PM Ignore lembs Report Abuse good news for free enterprise
comet64 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,250 Points:258,825 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:31:22 PM Ignore comet64 Report Abuse fire the CEO's and put the workers back to work
uptherefiners Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,037 Points:240,705 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:30:51 PM Ignore uptherefiners Report Abuse 661 out of 2000..it's a start
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,984 Points:1,601,470 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:29:31 PM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse I hope those dealers make it.
bby Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,629 Points:214,120 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:27:47 PM Ignore bby Report Abuse Good news for us here at Twincities...
outlaw329 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,634 Points:429,075 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:25:50 PM Ignore outlaw329 Report Abuse Hope it lasts for the dealers and that gm does not pull the rug out from under them
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,010 Points:557,485 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:23:26 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse Way to go .....
pulpwood Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,903 Points:1,158,795 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:17:29 PM Ignore pulpwood Report Abuse Way to hang on!
zakarpattya Sophomore Author Kansas City Posts:193 Points:156,950 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:15:03 PM Ignore zakarpattya Report Abuse I thought GM was making progress in right-sizing the company. Nothing like making a plan and sticking to it. Oh, wait... Just another example of poor judgement on the part of GM.
emptytank08 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:557 Points:577,505 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:10:37 PM Ignore emptytank08 Report Abuse Finally some good news
georgeo Champion Author California Posts:2,314 Points:93,235 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:09:33 PM Ignore georgeo Report Abuse Good to hear
Johnnyart Rookie Author California Posts:84 Points:108,900 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:08:40 PM Ignore Johnnyart Report Abuse "I wonder if this happened because of the foreign auto makers recalls and the government happened to own more than 50% of GM"
OKRifle Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:4,684 Points:812,395 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:06:53 PM Ignore OKRifle Report Abuse Double good!
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,340 Points:213,110 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:05:15 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse It makes sense not to close dealers in rural areas. No one is going to drive an extra hour or two to go to a dealer, or to have their car repaired when it is still under warranty. If there is a Toyota dealer close in the next town people will still go there despite all the negative news about Toyota. Also, either the guy in the photo is real small or the picture was photoshopped.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:5,765 Points:1,132,595 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:05:09 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Good.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,330 Points:854,180 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 6:54:03 PM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse Back aboard the sinking GM ship !!!
HankHill09 Champion Author Long Island Posts:1,046 Points:211,350 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 6:52:27 PM Ignore HankHill09 Report Abuse Awesome.
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:8,250 Points:2,205,165 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 6:51:29 PM Ignore scrounger Report Abuse good for Stillwater