Family-Owned N. Richland Hills Dealership Closes

Closing shocks employees, customers

After nearly 30 years in business, Alan Young Pontiac Buick GMC is closing its doors.

On Monday, General Motors Acceptance Corp. retrieved more than 250 new cars from the North Richland Hills dealership's lot.

The closing left 65 employees without a job. Some workers remained to ensure that the 14 customers who bought cars over the weekend would still get them.

Alan Young started the business in 1979 and is one of Tarrant County's most prominent black businessmen.

"After being a car dealer for 29 years, it is a death in the family," he said. "One day, I'll wake up and say, 'What do I do? Where do I go? I have no job.'"

Young's attorney, Larry Friedman, said he blames General Motors.

"The cause of death is directly the mismanagement of General Motors," he said. "They've mismanaged their own company, and that has affected the dealers nationwide."

The family-owned dealership has been located at 7724 Northeast Loop 820 since 1985. 

Kym Young, Alan Young's daughter, said they were forced to make the decision to close.

"My family is absolutely devastated," she said. "The economy has been very, very hard on our business for quite some time."

Some customers said they were shocked to see the closing sign on the front door of the dealership.

"What do you mean, 'They're closed for new business?'" Kathy Dickson said after arriving to look for a new car. "They've been here forever. That's not right. That's not fair."

Karin Eveslage said she just bought a new car at Allan Young on Saturday.

"I think it's horrible," she said. "I just came on Saturday to buy a car, and now it's closed."

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