By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-842270.mp3
Dallas, TX – Today is the last day of business for eight Chrysler dealerships across Dallas-Fort Worth. The automaker is cutting 789 dealers as it enters into bankruptcy.
North Texas dealership list:
ElDorado Chrysler-Jeep, McKinney
Frank Kent Dodge, Fort Worth
Grubbs Chrysler-Jeep, Bedford
Huffines Chrysler-Jeep, Denton
Manuel Dodge, Richardson
McNatt Dodge, Denton
Preston Chrysler-Jeep, Dallas
Tommy Manuel Chrysler-Jeep, Arlington
At Frank Kent Dodge in Fort Worth, the lot is already empty. Owner Will Churchill says he feels betrayed he had to liquidate his inventory - at a loss -- only 18 months after he bought the franchise at the request of Chrysler.
Churchill: Chrysler is the same company we trusted when we went into business with them 18 months ago, and this is what they did. And I was not going to put my trust in them again to help handle the new vehicles that we had.
Churchill says 38 of the 40 employees will be transferred to other Frank Kent dealerships. He says the Dodge location was #2 in the nation for sales last month, and he was stunned it was on the "hit list."
Chrysler says it took sales, location AND the goal to bundle Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge into surviving dealerships when deciding who would close.