Local Ford dealer closes its doors

Over the last 61 years, Creston residents have been purchasing their Ford vehicles from Creston Automotive. However, Ford enthusiasts will have to travel out of town starting Thursday, May 22 to find their next new ride.

Creston Automotive owners Rick Benson and Les Elliott announced the upcoming closure of their dealership via Facebook on May 1.

“With Rick nearing retirement and wanting to spend more time with family and Les wanting to transition into a different career, we made the decision to look for potential buyers in the last year or so,” the post read. “While we thought, on multiple occasions, that we had the right buyer to continue the dealership on, ultimately and unfortunately, that didn’t work out. From that point on, we made the incredibly difficult decision to move forward with this path.”

Creston Automotive first opened its doors in 1964, started by the Burton Blazek and Harry Schlapia families. Benson, Brent Wyant and Jim Baker purchased the dealership in April 2006. Benson bought out Wyant and Baker in 2008, with Elliot joining as partner in December.

“We’d been talking about it for a couple of years. This one came available and it was one that made sense, so we purchased it,” Benson said. “There were three of us that purchased it. Les is the only owner now that’s left with me; I bought the other two people out.”

For the next 17 years, the pair worked in tandem to provide Creston with Ford vehicles and repairs of all sorts. The goal was always to give back to their community, whether it be through donations, loaning vehicles or volunteering their time.

“I want to thank Creston very much for their support throughout the whole time. They’ve been very good to us, to me,” Benson said.

“We appreciate all our customers and everybody’s that done business with us over the years. It’s just been a great working relationship with everybody,” Elliott added.

While Elliott will be moving onto a new career, Benson is excited to start retired life.

“I’m going to enjoy not working for a while,” Benson said. “I’m going fishing the first week I get out of this; we go to Canada fishing every year.”

In the time before they officially close, Benson and Elliott encourage those with questions to reach out. The two can be reached at (641) 782-2179.

Once closed, the closest Ford dealer will be Fleetside Ford in Osceola.