By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Chip Peach had already sold a Chevrolet Tuesday afternoon, two days before he takes over as owner of the GM dealership in Brewton.
Peach, who owns Jim Peach Ford, is buying Grady Automotive and will re-open the dealership under the new name Peach Chevrolet on Thursday.
The staff at Grady will stay in place at the new Peach dealership, and departments including sales, services, parts and body shop will also remain.
The General Motors products - such as Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac - will also stay the same. &#8220GM is a good product,” Peach said. &#8220It's American made.”
Longtime Grady General Manager Donnie Beckham is making the switch to Peach. &#8220I'm very much looking forward to it,” he said.
Peach is expected to finish closing on the deal today. He said the opportunity is both challenging and exciting.
Peach, who bought out his father, Jim Peach, two years ago, has been around the car business most of his life. His family has been in business since 1974.
He also grew up working for his father's dealership, spending time everywhere from the body shop to the parts department. He returned to Brewton in 1994.
The employees will spend most of today exchanging computers and making adjustments to switch from Grady to Peach. In coming days, a new sign will go up, and every car will have a new Peach tag.
Peach is buying the dealership at a time when changes are coming to that side of town. Wal-Mart is expected to break ground this summer on a new SuperCenter on U.S. 31 North, and Walgreens is expected to build a store on the corner of U.S. 31 and Douglas Lane.
Peach said he hopes the retail changes have a positive effect on his business, but he said the dealership's goals remain the same.