Bigger, brighter, better Washington Ford’s renovated building lets the light shine in
Longtime salesman Paul Sargent, left, talks with general manager Dan Wind inside the new showroom of Washington Ford on Route 19 in South Strabane Township.
The exterior of the newly remodeled Washington Ford on Route 19 in South Strabane Township features a new front entrance.
A newly renovated service center is manned by service adivsors at the newly remodeled Washington Ford. From left: Chuck Spohn, Kevin Konek, Don Paris, Frank Volpe, III, Danielle Antoszewski and parts and service director Mike Bish.
Washington Ford has put on a bright facade – and much more.
Its year-long renovation excursion has resulted in a spiffy, state-of-the-art building that is bigger, brighter and better.
“This is for customers and the people who work here,” said Dan Wind, general manager of a dealership that has been at the intersection of Washington and Manifold roads since 1988. “We think our customers deserve a nice experience when they come in.”
Nice, indeed. The handicraft of General Industries of Charleroi is on display throughout the facility, but is most evident in the new front, the spacious showroom and the addition of a second story.
“We tore the whole front down,” said Wind, who operates the South Strabane Township business with his father, Larry, who is president. The Winds also own Woltz & Wind Ford in Scott Township.
And for the first time, the facade facing Route 19 has an entrance. Until the renovated showroom opened earlier this month, there were two entrances, both on the side. Now there are three.
It is a modern, attractive building front, one that inspired Roberta Stevens when she was designing a cake for the opening. She and her husband, Gerry, are local customers, and Roberta drew the facade impeccably on the cake she presented to Dan Wind.
Large glass windows abound there, increasing illumination, making the building greener. They literally brighten the day – and evening – for consumers and the 75-plus employees.
The service department also is well lit, with powerful skylights hovering over the service bays, some of which are further illuminated by all-glass garage doors. Wind said three glass doors have been installed there with more to come.
“It’s more natural light,” he said.
Customers awaiting service have an enhanced lounge area replete with desks for laptop use, and can monitor the status of work on their vehicle by glimpsing a TV screen with four feeds from the entire garage.
The accounting department is on the mezzanine of the second floor, which also features offices, a meeting/training room, dining area, private employee restrooms … and more glass.
“The staff is so happy with the office space – the windows, light and view. This is better than anyone thought it would be,” said Heidi Pankopf, comptroller and secretary/treasurer, who has been employed by the Woltz & Wind and Washington dealerships a combined 29 years.
She is in a corner office on the second story, with an optimum view of the outside – and a familiar spot.
Her father, John, owned Pankopf Ford, which from the mid-1960s to 1982 was across Route 19 from where Heidi now works. John sold the dealership to the Sisson family at that time.
“I can look right over there. There are a lot of good memories,” said Heidi, an East Washington resident.
Paul Sargent has them, as well. As a youth, he attended movies at the Route 19 Drive-In. He is now selling used cars and trucks on that site, where Washington Ford built.
The company previously was on Route 18 in Canton Township. Sargent started his Washington Ford career there, and has been an employee for 28 of the dealership’s 31 years.
“We had a smaller building on 18,” said Sargent, of North Franklin Township. “We were told we’d get a bigger, bold new building. Well, we’ve had two buildings built.
“This is very beautiful, very friendly for customers.”
Washington Ford operates on seven acres. Two years ago, General Industries built a 6,000-square-foot vehicle prep center on a 2.5-acre tract across Washington Road.
As with any long-term business, Washington Ford has undergone other construction over time. This project has been large, and while Wind said some minor work has to be completed, the vast majority is finished. It is the renovated home of a business that, according to the general manager, is doing well.
He said that in 2014, Washington Ford had the third-largest inventory of Ford-certified pre-owned vehicles in the nation, and was first in Pennsylvania. He also said it was in the top 15 in sales.
Larry Wind said in an emailed statement that in 2013, Washington Ford sold 3,344 new and pre-owned cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.
He, too, is enamored of the renovated digs.
“We look forward to this shining two-story building,” he said.
Shining, it is.