Don Allen Auto City to Sell Dealership, Property

Voelker family committed to employee, customer, community needs

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 3 -- Officials of Don Allen Auto City informed employees today that the dealership and its property on Baum Boulevard are in the process of being sold in separate transactions.

David Voelker, president, told employees in an afternoon meeting that the sale of the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Pontiac and Mazda dealership will occur during the next four to six weeks.

All work under way in Don Allen's service center will be completed, and Voelker said customers who require service or are owed parts should contact the service department at their earliest convenience. He added all cars on order from the factory will continue to be delivered at their negotiated prices. Furthermore, he said all third-party warranties sold at Don Allen will be unaffected by the sale of the dealership and all manufacturer warranties will be honored at authorized dealers.

Voelker said he was unable to disclose details of the pending sales, "but they are eminent, which is why we felt a responsibility to inform our employees, our customers and the community."

"We're committed to moving forward in a responsible manner by easing the transition for our employees, ensuring our customers' needs continue to be met and being good stewards of our property," he said.

Voelker said his family, which has owned the Don Allen dealership for 50 years, will work with local trade organizations and other dealerships to assist with the placement of employees. "If you're good enough to work for Don Allen, then your skills will be in demand," he said.

A liquidation sale is expected to begin next week, Voelker said.

"We're committed to selling our franchise to an organization that shares our commitment to customer satisfaction. Furthermore, we're committed to keeping all our property in tact, and we're committed to selling to parties who have the best interest of this community at heart ... a community that has been so good to me and my family for so many years."

Voelker said market factors caused his family to decide to sell the dealership.

"Location and convenience have always been important in the sale of automobiles," he said. "The continued growth of our nation's highway system -- ironically, driven by America's love affair with its automobiles -- has led to population declines in cities. Today, the majority of car sales occur in suburban locations situated on or near major roadways, offering the convenience of being able to shop at multiple dealerships ... which puts us at a significant disadvantage."

In addition, Voelker said Don Allen's main building, a three-story structure erected in 1922 as a manufacturing plant, is not well-suited to be a showroom and service center, resulting in high operating costs. Finally, he said the dealership's location, consisting of more than 7 acres at the intersection of Baum and Liberty, is highly attractive amid the revitalization that is occurring in the Baum-Center corridor.