Tarbox hoping to re-open in Attleboro
5:54 PM Tue, Aug 18, 2009 | Permalink
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NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- Car dealer Jim Tarbox said he is considering the offer presented by Chrysler Group LLC to bid on a new franchise in Attleboro, Mass. but coming up with the capital will be extremely difficult. Tarbox, president of Tarbox Jeep in North Kingstown and Tarbox Chrysler Dodge in Attleboro, was among 789 dealerships stripped of the right to carry the Chrysler brand in May during Chryslers' reorganization plan to regain profitability. The auto maker, now controlled by Fiat, announced earlier this month it would extend an opportunity to some dealers terminated, to compete for one of 140 new and more competitive locations throughout the United States, according to a Chrysler company spokeswoman. The company approached Tarbox in August to consider opening a franchise in Attleboro, but in a location other than the store dealership he ran on Route 123. That building, which he leased, has been vacated. Chrysler has asked Tarbox to find a new location with roughly 3.1 acres with 21,000 square-foot building. "They say I'm a candidate. I have no building, no money, or no credit," Tarbox said Tuesday in an interview at his North Kngstown office. "I'm going to try. Hopefully they will offer me some financing." The business in North Kingstown still exists, but Tarbox can only sell used vehicles and do service repairs. He said the investment he put in the Attleboro store back in 2007 cost him more than $1.8 million. When Chrysler sought bankruptcy protection and ordered dealerships shut down, Tarbox protested the decision, taking his complaint to Washington. Chrysler said its reasons for closing dealerships were based on sales, customer satisfaction and whether the dealerships offered competing brands. Tarbox said it was unfair of Chrysler to close his outlets, as he told Congress during testimony in July his North Kingstown dealership was the region's top sales performer "Why did they take it away from me? I have nothing now,'' he said. 
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