A Facelift for Gene's Chrysler.

• Author: JONES, PATRICIA
• Position: Brief Article

In the midst of a local economic downturn, John and Jim Immel purchased a 5.5 acre piece of undeveloped commercial property on Van Horn Road in south Fairbanks, just inside the city limits.

The businessmen planned, even back then during the post-pipeline financial crisis that was just starting in Fairbanks in 1985, to construct a new building for their existing Interior Alaska-based car dealership. They wanted to create a dream building for their family owned business, with expanded room for service work, bright cubicles for office workers and lots of room for a wide selection of new and used vehicles.

And in September 1999 that vision came into existence as the Immels moved Gene's Chrysler into a spit-shiny new 35,000-square-foot building on their comer lot in south Fairbanks.

Large panes of glass facing south and east brighten the showroom, making the dealership a pleasant place to work for all employees, the two owners said.

"This building reflects the growth of the Interior Alaska economy," said Jim Immel, who serves as secretary/treasurer of the family owned business. "More people are working now than ever before."

He and his twin brother, John, oversee a 60-person work force that sells and services Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep cars and trucks.

Revenues of the family owned business continue to climb each year. In 1995, Gene's Chrysler pulled in $18 million in revenues. That has ratcheted upward each year, growing to $27.7 million in 1998. In-house figures compiled for 1999 by Jim Immel place annual revenues at $29 million.

Among Alaska's top businesses, Gene's Chrysler has increased its position and clout. The Fairbanks dealership continues to climb in rank on the annual Top 49ers List compiled by this publication. Gene's Chrysler has risen from 46th position in 1997 to 40th in 1998 to 36th position in 1999.

And the future continues to look bright for the business, according to John Immel, who, by virtue of his longer tenure at the business, serves as president of the company.

"I don't feel the economy of Fairbanks is going to drop," he said. "With all the tourism and hotels that are being built, and the talk of a gas line, there's all kinds of positive news here."

Moving into the new facility was quite a step up from the crowded, poorly laid out building at 1804 Cushman, which had served as home to the business for more than 30 years.

John and Jim's father, Gene Immel, started the family business in 1945, selling Studebaker cars...