12/17/2008
DAVID CLOUSTON
Bennett Autoplex has decided to close its Minneapolis new and used car dealership effective Jan. 15.

“I regret primarily closing it because of what it does to the community. I didn’t see any other way to go,” said Ralph Bennett, owner of the car dealership headquartered at 651 S. Ohio.

Bennett called the last three months a disaster for the car business for the Minneapolis dealership, which sells Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac automobiles and pickups.

The dealership is closing out and liquidating its inventory, which includes about 40 new vehicles. The building and parking area, which covers more than a city block, will be rented, leased or sold, Bennett said.

He said the economic slowdown for car and truck sales is the most severe he’s seen in 52 years in business. Still, he expects General Motors’ current products and innovative products soon to come to keep the company viable.

U.S. automakers are lobbying the Bush White House for a piece of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout approved in October, and the administration has said it is evaluating options.
Read more of this story in Thursday's Salina Journal.