CALAIS, Maine — Pratt Chevrolet Buick of Calais is taking over the General Motors Company franchises for all GMC, Chevrolet and Buick vehicles in Washington County, owner Ian Pratt announced Monday.
“We are really excited. This is something I’ve wanted to do for the entire time I’ve been here,” said Ian Pratt, owner of the 18-year-old Calais dealership, which will now become Pratt Chevrolet Buick GMC.
All sales, parts and service for GMC, Buick and Chevrolet in the county now will be handled from the Pratt operation located on Route 1 South next to the Washington County Community College in Calais, Pratt said Monday. The transition takes effect Tuesday, Nov. 11, he said.
“We will take responsibility for all of GMC Chevrolet and Buick countywide,” Pratt said. “All the parts, servicing, warranty work and sales will be handled by Pratt Chevrolet Buick GMC.”
Ron Petell of New Hampshire, owner of Cranberry Motors in Machias, which previously owned the GMC franchise for Washington County, could not be reached for comment on Monday. But Stanley Howard, general manager of the Profile Cranberry Motors, Profile Blueberry Ford and Profile Tractor & Equipment Sales family of businesses on Dublin Street, said that no jobs have been lost because of the change.
Howard said that while Cranberry Motors will no longer sell GMC vehicles, the business will remain open to continue selling and servicing Honda power equipment, such as generators, lawn mowers and snowblowers.
He also said he would be increasing his inventory of Fords “by quite a bit.”
He said the transition was basically forced by General Motors, which wanted its GMC, Buick and Chevrolet dealerships consolidated under one roof and did not like having a Ford dealership at the same location.
While the Machias operation will no longer be able to perform warranty work on GM vehicles, Howard said, “we can still do routine service.”
In Calais, Pratt has renovated and expanded his facilities over the last few months in anticipation of the move. He said he has hired four new staffers in the last six months, bringing his total to 20 employees, and expects to hire “three to five more over the next couple months.”
Pratt said that starting on Nov. 8, the only locally owned dealership in the county also began offering a full line of services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
“A lot of people in this area are devout GMC owners,” Pratt said. “We are delighted we will be able to serve them.”
He urged anyone with questions about warranty or service issues to contact the dealership at 454-0600.