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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
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
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REPLIES (newest first)
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alterman156
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:26:25 PM

At least GM is making a good move by keeping a long standing dealership in business.
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JimTee
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:10:34 PM

Good for them. Good luck!
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Pete12
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 6:21:12 PM

This is excellent news. Now we have to get the Chrysler dealers back.
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1Casey
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:55:55 PM

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.
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filcut
All-Star Author Anchorage

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:55:42 PM

That's good for all the employees who are recalled to work.
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Jo120
Champion Author Arizona

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:46:16 PM

That's good to hear!!!
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Bert2010
Veteran Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:45:59 PM

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.
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ops3
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:40:54 PM

Good!
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kettle
Sophomore Author Yakima

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:40:17 PM

I'm glad for the dealership !
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snewwee
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:36:12 PM

And they will be selling cars to who?
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goodbuy
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:35:33 PM

About time. Too bad it took so long.
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NotTom
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:35:33 PM

good. Let's capitalize on Toyota's issues.
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mark1962
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:30:23 PM

That is great but why did they close in the first place? Economics have only got worse!
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LGStas
Veteran Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:23:50 PM

What about the rest of the U.S.?
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POLELANE
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:17:43 PM

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
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4warned
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:12:52 PM

I am glad for the jobs this will create but I am not sure this is the right move for G.M. right now.
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epf
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:12:46 PM

More franchise locations will not be good for any auto-maker
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mvosevich
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:11:09 PM

GM has to make better vehicles to survive.
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DEG
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:09:09 PM

I agree with DellMan regarding the political moves of this administration.
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DellMan
Champion Author Omaha

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 5:01:10 PM

Obama is just trying to help the house members running for reelection by allowing GM to reopen these dealerships.
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netman044
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:55:31 PM

Smaller dealers tend to give better service than the super dealerships. That is a large component of brand loyalty.
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SSchmidty
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:54:47 PM

So that and a lollypop gets you want? a showroom-full of customers/buyers? Hmmm yes concept, let see how that plays out!
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la90042
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:53:19 PM

it never made any sense to cut dealers - I though they paid in morefees than they cost anyway....
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starfighter08
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:50:56 PM

It's still Government Motors. Probably has more regulations than you can shake a stick at.
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signwiz
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:49:27 PM

Happy days are nearly here again!
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nimpy
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:44:26 PM

Good for them
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divebomber
Champion Author Nebraska

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:42:51 PM

Yipee, they are coming back:)
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WilW
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:37:57 PM

Buick's current line, though limited in number, is quite appealing. Much more so than what Chrysler is currently offering (ugh!).
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brus282
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:33:52 PM

good for the one's reinstated, bad for those left out, how were these selected?
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lembs
All-Star Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:31:30 PM

good news for free enterprise
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comet64
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:31:22 PM

fire the CEO's and put the workers back to work
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uptherefiners
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:30:51 PM

661 out of 2000..it's a start
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bbreff
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:29:31 PM



I hope those dealers make it.

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bby
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:27:47 PM

Good news for us here at Twincities...
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outlaw329
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:25:50 PM

Hope it lasts for the dealers and that gm does not pull the rug out from under them
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swrestler
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:23:26 PM

Way to go .....
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pulpwood
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:17:29 PM

Way to hang on!
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zakarpattya
Sophomore Author Kansas City

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:15:03 PM

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.
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emptytank08
All-Star Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:10:37 PM

Finally some good news
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georgeo
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:09:33 PM

Good to hear
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Johnnyart
Rookie Author California

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:08:40 PM

"I wonder if this happened because of the foreign auto makers recalls and the government happened to own more than 50% of GM"
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OKRifle
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:06:53 PM

Double good!
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MidNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:05:15 PM

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.
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pgerassi
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 4:05:09 PM

Good.
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Amplion
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 3:54:03 PM

Back aboard the sinking GM ship !!!
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HankHill09
Champion Author Long Island

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 3:52:27 PM

Awesome.
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scrounger
Champion Author Vancouver

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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 3:51:29 PM

good for Stillwater
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