The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Ice cream stand to set up shop at biz location
Kirtland Car Company to carry on at new location
After nearly 30 years in business, Eddie and Rennada Francis are on the move — but not too far away.
The Kirtland Car Company owners saw an opportunity and said the timing was right to sell their location at 9304 Chillicothe Road.
The property — where they will remain open for now — is targeted for an ice cream shop. The couple is exploring its options in Kirtland and hoping to be in the new spot by end of summer.
They opened the business in 1989 at the corner of Joseph Street and Chillicothe in Kirtland. They moved into a home in the city in 2004 and bought their current business building a couple of years later.
“What makes Kirtland Car Company stand out is the atmosphere,” Eddie said. “We are not high-pressure, we are very laid back and we listen to our customers. We are an A-rated dealer through CarGurus because of our pricing. It is just my wife and I; we price our vehicles very competitively and are not out to gouge people. … We don’t just sell you a vehicle; customers become our friends.”
They married 33 years ago — after meeting through mutual friends — and have two children. Neither is involved in the business. Anjelica Francis, 30, has worked in the veterinary field since she was 16. Angelo, 28, and his fiancee own and operate a supplement and clothing store in Mentor called Fitness First Ultimate Sports Supplements.
“The best thing about running a family business is we call the shots,” Eddie said. “We are honest and trusting, and we only have to answer to one person, and that is God. We want our conscience to be clear. We are up front with all of our customers with all of their concerns and questions. I personally purchase all vehicles, I have no buyers. I go to the auctions and visibly inspect and drive all vehicles before they are purchased. I can honestly say that we’ve had people call or come by and ask why our prices are so low — is there something wrong with (a vehicle)? … Our overhead is low, being that it is just the two of us; this also allows us to price our vehicles very competitively.”
A memory that stands out from the years in business is the time when a customer flew in from Canada to purchase a truck. He owns a restaurant and brought with him a cooler of live lobster for them.
“It was a feast to remember,” Eddie said. “We have made so many friends throughout the years that some of our customers are like family. We have generations now purchasing their vehicles from us. It is very heart-warming to us the trust that people have in us.”
The most challenging part of the business can be the internet competition.
“There are some dealers out there that aren’t very honest about the condition of the vehicle and price their vehicles very low,” he said. “Then customers will come to us and say they can get this vehicle $2,000 less somewhere else. All we can say is be careful, check the Carfax, and 99 percent of the time we are right.
“We encourage our customers to have our vehicles checked out by their mechanic, to give them added peace of mind. All of our vehicles go through a safety inspection, get detailed and are front-line ready.”
One service they plan to focus more on after the move is tracking down vehicles for customers if they don’t have what they want on the lot.
“Being in business for 30 years has given me the experience and expertise on how to buy, how to sell and what the customer expects,” Eddie said. “We strive for happy customers. Most of our customers are now past customers and referrals. They know if we don’t have a certain vehicle they are looking for, I will find it for them.”
Kirtland City Council President Kevin Potter said that he hopes the business is able to remain in town.
“(They have run) a very respectful and curb-appealing business in the city,” he said.