CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Former General Manager Tom Seidle says it was family turmoil and not financial trouble that put what appears to be the final nail in the coffin of Seidle Chevrolet Buick GMC.

(Photo by Dave Cyphert of ProPoint Media Photography.)

Tom told exploreClarion.com on Monday morning that he was fired from his job three weeks ago by owner Doris Seidle, who also happens to be his mother, and immediately replaced by his brother Tim.

Three weeks later, the business closed its doors.

A sign posted on the door of the sales department on Friday said the East Main Street business sales department was closed indefinitely.   Service and parts departments will remain open for approximately one month to close out the inventory, and the body shop will finish all scheduled work before closing.

Calls to Doris Seidle were not immediately returned, and General Manager Tim Seidle told exploreClarion.com on Monday, “I really can’t say anything at this point. I appreciate you calling anyway.”

Told that he was called because brother Tom had made some comments to allow Tim to provide another side to the story, Tim said,  “Tom doesn’t have anything to do with this dealership. He was fired three weeks ago.”

Tom readily offered his viewpoints.

“It’s a personal thing,” said Tom. “My mother essentially told me I’m either buying the place, or I’m fired.  That was about three or four weeks ago.  I left, and my brother Tim has her ear, and he felt he had a better way of running the dealership.  Obviously, that did not happen.”

Tom Seidle said that the closing had nothing to do with the dealership’s financial situation.

“The place is in excellent financial shape. When you start cutting employees’ pay and benefits — the most important people I had were my employees and the second most important people were my customers.”

“Now that I don’t have any employees, I’m concerned for my customers being taken care of. I have made arrangements this morning with Redbank Chevy and Brookville Chevy who have agreed to service all of our customers’ cars under the same circumstances that we did it, basically free state inspections. Anyone who bought a car from us got a free state inspection for as long as they owned it.”

Tom Seidle found out on Friday for the first time the business was closing.

“I was banished from the premises for about a month — they actually called the police on me, and I wasn’t allowed in. They basically had a different idea of running a car dealership than I did. They had my mother’s ear, and she took their direction, and they tried to follow through with it, and it didn’t work out.”

Doris, according to Tom, confronted him with buying the business or be fired.

“The cost of the franchise wasn’t even discussed. She said, ‘This place is for sale, and you have the first right of refusal,’ and I had always thought that meant someone else had already made an offer. She said you’re going to buy it and I said, ‘No, I’m not.’  I’m 60 years old, and I think it should go to the next generation — my son Jay, my daughter Sara, my daughter Annie, and stepson Brian. I thought it should go to the next generation of Seidles. She said, ‘If you’re not buying it, you’re fired.’

Tom went on to question Doris’ decision to close the business.

“That’s a terrible thing to do to 35 dedicated employees that had over 800 years of combined experience working for Seidle Chevrolet, and all of a sudden, and they don’t have a job anymore.”

Apparently, while the business is closing, it may not be for sale.

“I have a group of people who want to buy it, and it is not for sale,” said Tom. “It’s a lie that it’s been for sale for months. The first time I heard it was for sale was July 22. The group that I had gotten together wanted to buy it, but they were told it is not for sale.”

According to Tom, two separate transactions would be required, if the business were to be sold.

“The property owner, which is my mother, is in control of the sale of the property, and General Motors control the franchise.

“GM has a lot of control over the franchise and who would own it next. There would be two different sales, one of the property and one of the franchise. You have to be qualified, or they’re not going to let you buy it.”

Tom said his group could be considered “if they had a competent, qualified general manager who would be me. I’ve been doing it since 1979.”

Reportedly, there is another group also interested in the franchise. There are efforts for a separate group to buy the body shop because General Motors is not in control of the body shop.