Are you in the market for a new car in San Francisco and are considering a product built by America’s Big 2.5? If so, then I have some bad news: the last U.S. domestic automaker dealership has just shut up shop. San Francisco Ford Lincoln Mercury on Van Ness Avenue closed a few weeks ago, leaving some 50 employees out of a job.
Ford Lincoln Mercury presidente Mel Turner told the San Fransisco Chronicle: “We are proud to have served the San Francisco community and will be focusing over the coming weeks on helping employees through this transition and ensuring our current customer commitments are met.”
Dennis Fitzpatrick, regional vice president of California New Car Dealers Association and owner of Concord Chevrolet, said that consumers in San Francisco aren’t buying into Detroit’s products.
“It’s a tough market. Imports have a much bigger share in San Francisco. When you can sell 100 imports a month as opposed to 25 domestic, and what with the rents and real estate, it’s tough to make a U.S. car dealership pencil,” said Fitzpatrick. “San Francisco is not loyal to anything domestic; its allegiance is to anything but domestic.”
San Francisco Ford Lincoln Mercury was the last Ford dealership in the city after S & C Ford disappeared back in 2008, and various offers to buy out the business – including one from Journey Ford Lincoln owner Ali Omoomy – have all since fallen through. It’s sad, but life goes on.
By Tristan Hankins
