Local Ford dealership runs out of gas

CALUMET CITY | The Hennessey River Oaks Ford dealership at 281 River Oaks Drive will close this week after 45 years in business

"My dad has made the very, very, very difficult decision to close, but it's something we've seen coming for the past few years," said John Hennessey, son of Joseph Hennessey, who opened the dealership in 1966.

In those years, the family–owned car sales and service business has won Ford's President's Award five times, and the Partner in Quality award 17 times.

"If you know Calumet City – the area – you know where we're located has gotten off the beaten path," said the younger Hennessey, who serves as the business's vice president. "Traffic patterns have shifted, and a lot of this part of town has gotten vacant. Times have changed."

Plus, many of the business' customers have moved west or farther east and south into Northwest Indiana, he said, adding the dealership's high property taxes also contributed to the decision to shutter the business.

"Cook County taxes are ridiculous," John Hennessey said. "Everything in Cook County is higher, including insurance."

John Hennessey, who owns Hennessy River View Ford at 2200 U.S. 30 in Oswego near Naperville, said his father, who is River Oaks Ford owner and president, has been unsuccessful in his efforts to find a new location in the area for his dealership.

"That would seem the easiest thing to do, but hasn't happened," John Hennessey said. "Moving a dealership is hard because you can't get too close to another dealership, so that option is out."

In mid–October, the dealership's nearly 60 employees were told about the closing. Three are being transferred to the John Hennessey's Oswego dealership. With the help of both Hennesseys, most of the others already have found new jobs.

"We promised to help everybody find a job and they have," John Hennessey said. "They have been like family to us. Some have been with us 30–plus years, which is a testament to my father and the way he built the business."

The dealership has always had the "greatest employees and the greatest customers in the world," he said.

"We've gotten countless calls and letters from customers who've heard we are closing," John Hennessey said. "It's very hard to walk away from them. Dad always treated his customers and employees well and that will never change."