On the list of dealerships General Motors intends to shut down: Knapp Chevrolet, at 815 Houston Ave. just south of Washington. Back in May, GM notified the longtime Downtown dealership of its intent to terminate its franchise agreement as of Halloween 2010.
Since then, the dealership’s owners have been trying to get the decision reversed: President Robert G. Knapp presented his case to a congressional subcommittee in July, after several appeals to the company were rejected. Knapp claims his dealership has been profitable, and that closing the dealership would significantly hobble GM’s local market share. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has gotten involved, introducing a bill in Congress that would make it easier for dealerships to appeal franchise terminations in court. Knapp is also collecting a list of supporters through an online petition to GM. More than 6,200 supporters have added their names to the list so far.
One of those supporters: The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, fans of Knapp’s moderne corner building, completed in 1941, 2 years after the dealership was first established.
- SaveKnappChevy.com [Knapp Chevrolet, via Swamplot inbox]
- Testimony of Robert G. Knapp (PDF) [GHPA]
- Knapp Chevrolet Co. [Houston Deco]
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Announces new initiative to save autodealers, Jobs [rblok]
- Automobile Dealers Fair Competition Act of 2009 (H.R. 3450) [Thomas]
Photo of Knapp Chevrolet: Chris Adams
