Saturn of Carbondale to close - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

By Julia Bruck - email

CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - Typically, when you go to a car lot you expect to see row of vehicles.  However, at Saturn of Carbondale there are only a few cars left.  A sign on the front door also reads "limited services."  Owner Sam Shemwell says the dealership will close in nearly two weeks. 

"I'm shocked," said Saturn owner Denise Monahan.

On a sunny afternoon Monahan pulled up to Saturn of Carbondale.  She expected to speak to someone in the service department about an oil change for her 2001 Saturn.  Instead, Monahan found a quite empty lot.

"I don't know what I am going to do.  I'll have to go to a non-Saturn dealer for service," Monahan said.

Late Friday afternoon Heartland News spoke with Shemwell.  He declined an on-camera interview.  However, Shemwell said he saw problems with Saturn and decided to file to terminate his franchise on May 18.  Shemwell says at its peak some 25 people worked at Saturn of Carbondale.  Now there are only five.

"I bought it and the service has been really reliable," Monahan said.

The empty show room and stacked furniture will leave folks without a job.  It is also forces Monahan to look for a new place to service her car and possibly buy a new one.

"I was thinking about buying another Saturn," Monahan said.  "It's sad.  I'm not quite sure what to make of it."

Shemwell says they will continue to provide customers with limited services for the next couple of weeks.  We are told doors will finally close June 18. 

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