Blanck Chevrolet closes in Brownsburg

By Charlee Beasor, Hendricks County Flyer

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com

BROWNSBURG - Many residents here were shocked Tuesday when they drove by the oldest business in town and noticed it was shut down and all the cars were gone from the lot.

Blanck Chevrolet at 710 E. Main St. closed its doors for the last time at 6 p.m. July 7. The dealership is owned by Dave Blanck and has been in Brownsburg for the past 81 years.

It was a General Motors dealership and, as part of bankruptcy proceedings, GM had to close a number of dealerships across the country.

Robert Waggoner, a Brownsburg resident and past town council member, said it was a shame that the business had to close.

"It's an injustice that's been served to them after all these years," Waggoner said. "For GM to deny them the ability to continue is just unjust. It's a focal point in town. The community is indebted to their service."

Waggoner, who has lived in Brownsburg since 1946, said the business started during the Great Depression in 1928. He said they've been through World War II, when they had to sell used cars to get by.

"And now GM has taken the dealership away from them," Waggoner said.

Though a call was not returned to the Hendricks County Flyer as of press time, in an open letter to customers printed in the July 8 edition of the paper, Dave Blanck said he was very appreciative of the time the business had in Brownsburg and the support it got from the community.

"As difficult as this past year has been dealing with the economic effects of the recession and the bankruptcy of General Motors, it saddens me to inform you that after 81 years, we at Blanck Chevrolet have closed our doors for the last time on Tuesday, July 7 at 6 p.m.," Blanck said in the letter. "It has been an interesting and challenging business through the good years and even the bad years. Our loyal customers and many wonderful friendships through these years have made it worth it. Thank you everyone."

Also in the letter, Blanck goes on to say that he has completed a new association with Dugan Chevrolet.

"This is not a passing of responsibility, but a new partnership of the most respected and trusted GM dealerships in Hendricks County and all of Indiana," he said. "We promise you that we will conduct our business with you and your family with the integrity that you expect and personal attention that you deserve."

Rex Dugan said he is excited to have Blanck on his team.

"We've been family friends ever since we came to Danville," Dugan said. We've been friends for years and Dave got one of the letters that we all feared we might get. They've given him a year and a half to wind down his store, and he realized that with a small inventory and a small store it would be exceedingly difficult (to sell all of the cars)."

Dugan purchased the rest of Blanck's inventory and will employ both Blanck and a member of Blanck's sales team.