Original Coggin Auto Dealership to Close

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Coggin Pontiac at Southside and Atlantic Boulevards is closing its doors after 40 years.

It has been a Jacksonville landmark since 1968. A time when Richard Nixon was elected President. Vietnam was boiling. And a young buck named Luther Coggin opened this business, his first dealership.

Over the years, Coggin would become an auto sales dynasty on the First Coast, eventually selling to a Wall Street conglomerate eight years ago.

Those corporate owners broke the news to the staff here Tuesday -- GM didn't want two Pontiac Dealerships in the same city in a slumping economy. Several dozen employees will be laid off come 2009.

In a conversation with Luther Coggin this afternoon, he told me he was "surprised to hear about the plans to close" from one of his long-time employees. Many of those workers have been at this Southside and Atlantic location for decades.

Though Luther Coggin no longer owns the landmark bearing his name, he said, "My heart and soul is in it and I deeply regret what has happened. I owe my success to so many wonderful employees and customers, and I am grateful to all who have been part of the Coggin Family for so many years."

While the corporate owners refused to allow Coggin Pontiac staff to talk with us, they say they will try to place several dozen employees in their other area dealerships.

"I will pray for every one of them," said Luther Coggin, adding "These are most unusual times...perhaps the worst time for auto sales since the Great Depression."

Luther Coggin's Original Pontiac dealership, set to close in 60 days.