Some Concerned With Appleway Owner Change

Valley business leaders say it’s too early to tell what the pending sale of the Appleway Group auto dealerships will mean to the Valley, but some fear the community could suffer.

“When you lose that local ownership, you lose a very important community ingredient,” said Joe Custer, chairman of Tidyman’s Inc., the Valley-based grocery chain.

“Absentee owners don’t have a stake in the community like the local owner did,” said Custer, who has lived in the Valley since 1954.

Appleway, the group of auto dealerships owned by the Valley’s Pring family, announced on Wednesday that it will be acquired by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic Industries for $42.6 million in Republic stock.

Appleway’s Valley roots run decades deep, spanning three generations. John Pring bought into a Chevrolet franchise in 1928. Son Jack Pring purchased Appleway Motors from his father in 1955. His son Tim Pring became involved in 1981, added eight franchises, and with brother Brad Pring bought his father’s share in 1993.

Tim Pring, Appleway Group president, said that selling the business tugged on his heartstrings.

“This was an emotional deal,” Pring said. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. We bet three generations of efforts that this will be successful.”

The company today employs 340 people in nine franchises, selling about 7,500 cars per year - making Appleway one of the largest dealers in the Northwest.

The new owners won’t change operations much, Pring said. He’s committed to stay for at least three years, and the Appleway name will stick.

“The misnomer of this is that we didn’t sell out to Republic, we bought into Republic.” Pring said. “They expect us to be involved in the community.”

But some wonder whether Republic Industries will be as good a corporate citizen as the Prings.

Custer said he has seen several local companies sell to national chains during his 43 years in the Spokane business community. Often, he said, there is a noticeable difference in community participation.

“They invest less in the way of the arts, and all the amenities that communities need to really function,” Custer said.

“Profits can, and probably will, go out of the area,” said Cecil Cleveland, president of Valley Best-Way, a Valley home building materials company, and a 54-year Valley resident.

Ray Murphy, executive director of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, is taking a wait-and-see approach.

“Locally owned businesses are usually more involved in the community. However, there are exceptions,” Murphy said. “It will totally depend on the company philosophy.”

An Appleway employee said he isn’t too worried about the shift in ownership, but wonders if the change could affect how customers perceive service.

“A lot of people really liked Appleway because it was a family thing,” said the employee, who asked for anonymity. “A big company just doesn’t have time to get to know you personally.”

Gus Johnson, president of McCollum Ford, Appleway Mitsubishi’s next-door neighbor, thinks the sale could be a boon to all Valley auto dealers.

“From a selfish standpoint, it is really going to help the car dealers up and down the block,” said Johnson, “I think it will be good for the community.”

He predicts that curiosity will draw many potential car buyers to Appleway and to other East Sprague dealerships.

Rod Ervin, president of DWI auto insurance, Appleway’s neighbor, says people shouldn’t worry about dark corporate shadows.

“If somebody moves in next door, are you suspicious of them?” said Ervin, president of DWI auto insurance. “No. You welcome them into the neighborhood.

“Spokane is a big town and these things happen in big towns.”

, DataTimes