BY CRAIG WENZEL – TRUE DAKOTAN EDITOR

 Main Street got some good news last week as a cornerstone business in Wessington Springs will continue operation. The General Motors automobile dealership in Wessington Springs will remain open according to Springs Auto, Inc. owner Lawrence Caffee. Springs Auto was among the GM dealerships across the United States that had been targeted for closure as part of the company’s move to eliminate nearly one in five of its franchises. Springs Auto received notice a year ago (May 15, 2009) that they would no longer sell GM products. “I know quite a few of the dealerships didn’t get their GM franchise back,” Caffee said on Monday morning” Since last year’s announcement that the General Motors Corporation would downsize its operations, the company has repaid a federal stimulus grant and its interest five years ahead of time. General Motors products are already rolling back onto the Springs Auto lot. “We weren’t able to order new GM products until now,” Caffee said, “and we’re ordering Chevrolet and Buick vehicles every day.” Springs Auto, Inc. owner Lawrence Caffee took over the Wessington Springs General Motors dealership in 1980. “We sure appreciate the people who bought General Motors vehicles from us,” he said. “We want to thank all of the people who contacted the company about getting our franchise back,” said Jerry Caffee. “We also appreciate all of the customers who buy vehicles from us.” The Caffee family is one of the top employers in Wessington Springs with 27 people on the payroll at Springs Auto, L Double J Implement, Caffee Farms and Humm Dinger Convenience Store. Family members involved include Lawrence and Ada Caffee, their son Jerry Caffee and their daughter and son-in-law Mary and Jeff Reider. Aside from Ford and General Motors products, the family also offers used cars and pickups, used farm equipment, semi-trucks, scrapers, loaders, and new Travalong trailers and new CanAm four-wheelers.

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