Bill Jacobs fights -- and wins

Community comes together to keep Joliet car dealer open

JOLIET -- Bill Jacobs Jr. is back in the driver's seat for the city's only Cadillac dealership.

Jacobs, together with his staff, his congresswoman and the local community, all worked together to successfully appeal GM's decision to eliminate the Cadillac dealership from Joliet.

"At the end of the day, we prevailed," he said. "... We showed them the market in Will County and the market in Joliet ... (was) well over the performance level set by GM."

Jacobs signed paperwork earlier this month that fully reinstates the Cadillac dealership, which otherwise would have had to close by October 2010.

Jacobs received a notice from GM in April that informed him the company was eliminating the Joliet Cadillac dealership as part of downsizing required in the parent company's bankruptcy case.

Jacobs said he was shocked because the dealership always exceeds GM's sales goals. Also, GM had worked with Jacobs to buy the franchise from another owner four years ago. And GM had given its blessing to a $2 million renovation of the dealership showroom at 2001 W. Jefferson St. The renovation was completed right around the time the dealership termination letter arrived.

Jacobs immediately decided to appeal the decision, no matter how long it took.

"We were hell bent on staying open until the last minute," Jacobs said.

He spent the spring and summer working with his staff to come up with an appeal campaign. In August, publicity about Jacobs' plight spurred others to get involved.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, unions, the business community and the dealership's staff all jumped on the campaign to keep Cadillacs in Joliet, Jacobs said.

"The community really worked with us to turn this thing around," Jacobs said. "... Even Al's Steak House had a petition for us. It was really cool."

A letter written by Halvorson, D-Crete, to GM officials had a big impact, he added.

"The political attention really helped," he said.

Jacobs, whose dad Bill Sr. started the dealership in 1955, said he also sent a package of materials showing GM officials how successful the Joliet franchise has been. A few days later, on Oct. 9, he was called to a GM district office to sign paperwork reinstating the Cadillac dealership.

Jacobs said Joliet deserves a Cadillac dealership, and he's proud of the community's response to his plight.

"This community is so underestimated by people who are not involved in it," he said. "When there's something to be done, Joliet gets it done."

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