PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
RIBBON CUTTING … Ballas Chevrolet owners and team members are joined by the Swanton Chamber of Commerce and Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe during a ribbon cutting celebrating the dealership in Swanton.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Ballas Chevrolet marked its official arrival in Swanton with a ribbon cutting Thursday, July 2, during a grand opening week celebration at the dealership on West Airport Highway.
The event was held with the Swanton Chamber of Commerce and came as part of a weeklong celebration that included food trucks, special activities and fireworks. The dealership promoted the event as a grand opening week from June 29 through July 2.
Ballas Chevrolet is owned by Jeff Robinson, Marianne Ballas, Tim Robinson and John Zureich.
During the celebration, Jeff Robinson, Marianne Ballas and Tim Robinson discussed the dealership’s transition, its growth since last year and the company’s plans for the Swanton location.
The group purchased the dealership in August and spent the months that followed building inventory, adding General Motors signage and preparing the business to operate as the store they envisioned for the community.
“We bought the dealership in August of last year,” Tim Robinson said. “We had to build up the inventory.
“We had to get signage from General Motors and get to the point now, where we feel like we’re opening the store that we envisioned opening here in town.”
The timing of the ribbon cutting also fit with the dealership’s preparation for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
As part of the grand opening, the dealership raised its flag, which each of the owners described as an important part of the celebration.
Ballas Chevrolet operates in Swanton as a standalone Chevrolet, used car and fleet dealership. The group also operates a Buick GMC dealership in Toledo, giving the business a broader General Motors presence in the region.
The Swanton dealership has grown significantly since the purchase. When the group took over, the lot had about 40 to 50 vehicles, including both new and used inventory.
That number has since grown to more than 200 vehicles, including about 175 used vehicles.
The dealership plans to operate as a volume-based Chevrolet dealer, offering customers more new and used vehicle options locally.
Marianne Ballas described the group’s purchase of the dealership as a natural step for the business, and said Chevrolet was viewed as a strong fit because it is a volume brand and helped round out the company’s General Motors offerings.
The Swanton location also stood out because of its place within the region, with access to customers from Fulton County, Lucas County, southern Michigan and Indiana.
The Swanton community was also a major focus of the discussion. Since purchasing the dealership, the group said it has found the area to be loyal and supportive, with a strong sense of community.
“We’re proud to be in Swanton,” Jeff Robinson said. “We’re proud of this community, and we hope that we can do business in a way that the Swanton community is proud of, and that they can be proud of us and how we support the community.”
