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County to Ford: Don't give up on us

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News

Published: October 28, 2009

A day after Marion's Ford dealership was forced to shut its doors, the county's economic development director said he's trying to see if the decision could be reversed.
Legendary Ford-Mercury, located at U.S. 70 West and U.S. 221 North, announced Tuesday that it would go out of business as of that day. Tommy Calhoun, the dealer principal, told The McDowell News that his business is closing "mostly because of the economy."
Ford Credit held the mortgage for the dealership but wanted it refinanced through a bank. Calhoun said he tried one bank after another but could not get new financing for his dealership. When his efforts were unsuccessful, Ford officials told him to close the dealership immediately. Calhoun said there is no possibility his business would reopen.
County Manager Chuck Abernathy, who is also the economic development director for McDowell, said Wednesday he spoke with Calhoun about the closing.
"Obviously we didn't know that this was happening or that there was a problem," said Abernathy. "He seemed to think that it was irrevocable, that there was nothing that could be to undo it and that it was proceeding."
Abernathy said he told Calhoun that he and other county officials are willing to meet with Ford Motor Co. representatives and try to appeal this decision.
"Ford is real fundamental to this community and it is a loss," said Abernathy.
Legendary Ford-Mercury had 22 full-time employees. The dealership, which was previously Darrell Ford-Mercury, has been at that location since 1968.
The building and land will probably be put on the real estate market. There is a possibility that another car dealership or a used car business could buy the place.
Abernathy said he's talked to others about the possibility of another dealership coming to McDowell.
"You have got to have private investors, business people, who are willing to start a new dealership," he said. "They would have to have the capital and they would have to call and find out what the franchise requirements are."
He added local governments do not recruit auto dealerships like they would an industry.
"That's not how it works," he said.