Walled Lake Chrysler Jeep Store Expands More Than 50% with +12,000 Square-Foot Addition

- June 30 Ground Breaking Adds 15 To 20 New Employees By Christmas
- Phased Construction Keeps Store Fully Open During Project

WALLED LAKE, Mich., June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A long history of community involvement will continue on a new level when Shuman Chrysler Jeep breaks ground in June on a 12,000-plus square foot expansion to its hometown location in Walled Lake that will grow the store by more than 50 percent and add 15 to 20 new employees by Christmas.

A ceremonial ground breaking is scheduled for Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 10 a.m. The expanded store will be more than 35,000 square feet when completed in late December and feature a new 10-car showroom, bigger service areas, a larger parts department and updated sales offices. Shuman is adding 15 to 20 new sales and support people to the store's existing 60 employees to manage the store's continuing growth.

"This expansion was absolutely necessary to continue to service our customers at the high level that they've come to expect during our long history in the Walled Lake community," said Shuman Motor Sales Chrysler Jeep Dealer, Bob Shuman.

"This is the largest expansion we've ever undertaken in the more than 50 years we've been here, but we're not out to just get bigger," Shuman continued. "Our consistent volume growth and high service benchmarks demanded that we grow. We've made a point of keeping our service exceptional at the same time keeping our overhead low so that we can provide our customers with the best deal possible."

Construction work will be phased and areas of the store temporarily relocated in sequence as needed to keep all sales and service departments fully operating at all times.

The expansion renews Shuman's commitment to building on his 50 year, three-generation hometown business roots in Walled Lake. Shuman Chrysler Jeep had been courted by nearby cities to relocate the store, but Shuman opted to expand the store in the town where his father and grandfather founded the business.

"We're heavily invested in keeping this a thriving business in our hometown community," Shuman said. "I've lived here all my life, and the city of Walled Lake has been very helpful over the years in our success. There's a lot of negativity out there, but we're very positive and bullish on Walled Lake."

Richard and Thurlow Shuman purchased an existing auto retailer in Walled Lake in 1954. They relocated the store to the northwest corner of Pontiac Trail and South Commerce in 1967, and quickly grew a reputation for exceptional service and community involvement.

Bob Shuman grew up in the business and took over the helm in 1997 after 11 years of practicing law in Oakland County. Shuman makes a practice of continuing the down-to-earth customer service principles started by his father and grandfather, offering the best deals on new and pre-owned vehicles along with Five Star service and a complete parts inventory. Every service customer even gets a free car wash every time they have something done.

"We give our customers small-town, old-fashioned customer service, while still providing all of the conveniences and state-of-the-art service of a large-volume store," Shuman said.

Shuman has made sure to equip the store's sales and service staff with the latest technology and training, so that they can provide fast and efficient service to customers. "We've added the latest computer systems and service equipment, and we send everyone -- service advisors, parts counterpersons, service and parts managers, and even me -- to receive the best training available, so that you don't have to go anywhere else for any automotive need," he said.

Shuman Chrysler Jeep consistently ranks in the top 100 in new vehicle sales volume out of 4,000 stores nationwide, a trend that Shuman expects to continue as Pontiac Trail is expanded.

But even as the business grows, community involvement is also a cornerstone of Shuman Chrysler Jeep's business. Bob Shuman is vice-chair of the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority's board of directors. The store is an active supporter of the athletic programs at Walled Lake's three high schools: Walled Lake Northern High School, Walled Lake Western High School and Walled Lake Central High School. Shuman Chrysler Jeep is also a major sponsor of community events such as Artrain USA, a traveling art museum that features American artwork traveling in vintage rail cars.

"We've worked hard to earn an outstanding reputation in the community," Shuman said. "We look forward to continue to grow our business and name in the same community where we started."

Shuman Chrysler Jeep is located at 1111 S. Commerce Road on the corner of Pontiac Trail between the M-5 connector and Maple Road in Walled Lake.

For more information, visit http://shumanjeep.com/

Shuman Chrysler Jeep is a member of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Advertising Association, a group of 39 independently owned Chrysler Jeep Superstores in Southeast Michigan from Monroe to Fowlerville and from Clinton to Port Huron.

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