Local Car Dealership Celebrates Grand Re-Opening

From a press release

To ensure Douglas County residents continue to have the best selection of Ford products and premium service, John Bleakley Ford celebrates the grand reopening of their all-new sales and service facility on Thursday, Dec. 18, with attendees from Ford Motor Company and leaders from the local community.

The $1.6M renovation brings an even better car buying experience to local residents. The newly remodeled facility include upgrades like all new office spaces, a redesigned eight thousand square foot showroom and efficient heating, air conditioning and LED lighting.

“John Bleakley Ford is following the long tradition of Ford Motor Company in delivering the best products and service to our customers,” said John Bleakley Jr., President and Owner of John Bleakley Ford. “Our dealership wants to provide the very best experience to everyone who walks through the door and at the same time continue to support critical programs in our growing community.”

The grand reopening event is slated to begin at noon with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony and facility tours. The dealership will later host the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce after hours event from 5-7p.m.

With the strong business momentum Ford Motor Company built on its One Ford plan, this is an ideal time for a grand reopening of a dealership in the Atlanta community. Ford’s impressive line-up of vehicles including the 2015 F-150, America’s number one selling truck for 37 years, and the all new 2015 Ford Mustang demonstrate Ford’s commitment to quality and smart technologies. Ford’s lineup offers industry-first technologies such as rear inflatable seatbelts, and technology like Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, Active Park Assist, and MyFord Touch.

John Bleakley Ford has been in business for decades. When John Bleakley Senior moved his family to Douglasville in 1968 he took over Estes-Williams Ford and renamed the facility Five Flags Ford. Upon completion of the purchase, the dealership was renamed John Bleakley Ford and began using the backwards “K” in all of his advertising and promotion to represent a different kind of dealership.

In 1981, the dealership was relocated from Douglasville to its current 11 acre site on Thornton Rd. in Lithia Springs. Although the facility has seen several changes and expansions, this is the first full scale remodeling in over 30 years.

John Bleakley Senior is retired, but still visits the dealership and is most proud of the number of long term staff members on the Bleakley team. Most have more than 25 years with the business, and some with more than 40. His son, John Bleakley Jr. is now the president of the company, and works along with his nephew Norman Bleakley, Used Car Manager, and grandson Logan Bleakley, salesperson.

In an era of corporate owned dealerships, Bleakley Ford is proud to be one of the oldest and very few family owned Ford dealerships in Atlanta.

The dealership continues to support the local Atlanta community by serving as a local collection point for charities like Toys for Tots, the Douglas County Animal Shelter, and sponsoring a coat drive for Inner Harbour. In addition to these charitable activations, John Bleakley Ford participates in Ford’s Drive 4UR School events each year, alternating support for local high schools and raising more than $20,000 for school programs in need.

John Bleakley Ford is located at 870 Thornton Road in Lithia Springs, GA.