A BELOVED car dealership that had been open for more than 90 years has officially closed its doors for good.
On July 12, 2024, Ford of Buddenhagen shared a brief but touching message to everyone who has ever shopped at the dealership.
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“It’s about time,” said Hal Roeder, grandson of the dealership’s founder, according to the Sullivan County Democrat.
“I’ll still have a lot of work to do inside, but we will be officially closed after Friday.”
The family-owned dealership, located in Hortonville, New York (about 130 miles from New York), was first founded in the 1930s by Anthony “Tony” Buddenhagen.
“When my grandfather started the business in the early 1930s, he didn’t have a franchise,” Roeder told the outlet.
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“Then my aunt and uncle, Shirley and David Buddenhagen, bought the business from Tony in 1962.”
Roeder explained that his uncles were responsible for brokering a deal that introduced the Dodge franchise to the store about two or three years after taking control.
The couple was also responsible for taking over another local Ford dealership in 1973 and managed to win over its customers.
After many successful years running the dealership, the couple turned the business over to Roeder and his friend, Tom Dnistrian.
Unfortunately, months after purchasing the business, Dnistrain contracted leukemia and died shortly after.
Dnistrain’s death weighed heavily on Roeder, not only because he was a close friend, but also because he was now the sole owner of the business.
However, Roeder was determined to maintain his family’s legacy and hired many like-minded employees to help him.
The five-person team consisted of Roeder, Kim LeRoy, Jodi Schanil, Chris Doney and Mike Cole.
In June, LeRoy, who worked at the dealership for 25 years and managed the sales department, announced he would retire at the end of the month.
Schanil worked at the dealership counter for 24 years and was also responsible for scheduling appointments, serving customers and various other jobs.
FULL STATEMENT BY HAL ROEDER
The Wisconsin Family business officially closed its doors at the end of last month. Below, find the official statement from owner Hal Roeder
“The time has come,” Hal Roeder, grandson of the dealership’s founder, said in the Sullivan County Democrat in July.
“I’ll still have a lot of work to do inside, but we will be officially closed after Friday.”
Roeder then tells how the dealership came into his possession.
“When my grandfather started the business in the early 1930s, he didn’t have a franchise,” Roeder told the outlet.
“Then my aunt and uncle, Shirley and David Buddenhagen, bought the business from Tony in 1962.”
“They added a Dodge franchise, which they bought in ’64 or ’65, and then when Carl Oestrich closed his Ford dealership in Callicoon, Dave and Shirley bought it in 1973.”
After many successful years running the dealership, the couple turned the business over to Roeder and his friend, Tom Dnistrian.
Unfortunately, months after purchasing the business, Dnistrain contracted leukemia and died shortly after.
“The friendships I’ve made along the way will never end,” Hal said. “And to my family and staff, thank you all.”
Doney served as his own mechanic for 22 years.
Roeder later told the publication that Doney would open his own auto repair business.
Before closing, Cole took care of any detail work that needed to be done.
Last year, it was announced that the single-story business would discontinue its 50-year partnership with Ford.
According to the Democrat, many visitors to the company expressed how they instantly felt at home when they sat down with Roeder and his team.
Many also commented on how, when they visited the dealership, Roeder would go above and beyond to ask about their families and how they were doing.
“The friendships I’ve made along the way will never end,” Roeder promised.
“And to my family and staff, thank you all.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
