Roberts Toyota in Columbia celebrates 50th anniversary
Columbia dealership Roberts Toyota celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary Tuesday as the loved ones company reflected on its earlier and identified its vivid future at the middle of a single of the state’s swiftest creating locations.
Roberts Toyota is regarded as the oldest spouse and children-owned Toyota dealership in Center Tennessee and the next oldest in the state. It was founded in neighboring Marshall County by Bay Roberts in 1971 and has remained a family-owned small business for a few generations.
Bay’s son, Eddie Roberts, carries on to run the business from its 19,000 square-foot facility on Nashville Highway done in 2011. To date, the operation has sold extra than 19,900 cars. This 12 months, the business enterprise has generated additional than than $2 million in income tax income for Maury County.
“Gratitude will come 1st,” Eddie Roberts told The Each day Herald, next an anniversary ceremony held at the dealership Tuesday afternoon.
“We were welcomed into the community 20 years in the past. Having all these superb workforce that we labored with and becoming ready to see them make a dwelling, aid their people, shell out tuition and obtain homes. I assume that is the point I am most grateful for.”
For the past decade, Roberts Toyota has had a personnel of 50 staff members.
Roberts served on the Motor Car Fee for the condition of Tennessee for 21 yrs for the duration of the administrations of governors Don Sundquist, Phil Bredesen and Invoice Haslam. He served as chairman from 2011 right up until 2019.
Generating folks sense welcome
Roberts has been repeatedly regarded for his contributions to the auto marketplace in Center Tennessee, including the Toyota President’s Award, the Andrew Jackson Award from Tennessee Automotive Association for Citizenship, Local community Provider and Contributions to the Automotive Industry and the Dick Satterfield Award also from the Tennessee Automotive Association for Meritorious Services.
“Southern Center Tennessee is staying rediscovered,” Roberts explained. “So a lot of persons have established that this is a terrific location to live and our workers are a section of that. They aid folks truly feel welcome in the neighborhood. They do a large amount of group do the job, and we are very proud of that.”
As the local community grows, Roberts said the organization continues to broaden with a lot more gross sales built out of the dealership as properly as others throughout the region by the dealership’s developing on the net presence. “This space is escalating extremely quickly, and we assume we are in a good locale,” Roberts reported.
Family members roots
The loved ones also operates a Toyota dealership and a Nissan retail outlet in Manchester.
When Roberts Toyota moved to Columbia in 2001, it was the only new car dealership on the north aspect of the metropolis. Now other folks have opened operations alongside U.S. 31 in between Spring Hill and Columbia.
“There are not a large amount of moments we get to identify a 50-year seller,” stated Shane Sizemore, the Toyota Cincinnati Location Common Supervisor. “That is something to be happy of and to be acknowledged.”
As a gift, Sizemore presented the family with Bay Robert’s original dealer agreement signed in 1970 by Bay Roberts.
“When you believe of the number of family members who have crafted this organization, it goes outside of terms,” Sizemore claimed. “We appear forward to a further 50 years of partnership. It is the men and women that make this organization. Everyone of the workforce users below are just as a great deal a component of Roberts Toyota as the Roberts relatives them selves.”
Eddie’s daughter, Cackie, has followed his leadership instance via her assistance as Typical Manager of Roberts Toyota. She serves as the chief working officer of the dealership with accountability for all features of everyday procedure.
“Firms like this one stand on a organization foundation that hold up to the test of time,” she claimed. “For 50 decades, our business basis has been rooted in mutual have faith in with our customers and our loyal staff members and a belief in our firm that all men and women are entitled to to be treated with respect.
“In a time when relatives stores are starting to disappear, Robert’s Toyota’s legacy stays intact. That is thanks to the foundation on which this company was founded. Motor vehicle dealerships are construct on associations. Relationships with customers, the community and its staff members. From its inception, our family has operated the retail outlet to reflect our values. I am proud of the way we do business and the men and women who are and have been a component of this enterprise.”
The businesses’ legacy began in neighboring Lewisburg when Clyde Roberts, together with his two sons, Lyndal and Bay, opened a Mobil Support Station & Garage in 1945, launching the family-owned small business.
“Time has been fantastic to us, our team and our buyers,” she extra. “As we mature, we continue on to use extra folks in Maury County and as we proceed to employ far more people than we ever have in our dealership’s background.”
Lyndal Roberts went on to adhere to his personal pursuits, but the father-son team of Clyde and Bay ongoing with the enterprise from 1950 by way of 1955. The duo along with Stanley Thompson, sold used cars and trucks next to Baxter’s Garage on Lewisburg’s First Avenue.
Bay Roberts then founded the Roberts Motor Enterprise on 2nd Avenue in 1956 soon following Clyde’s retirement.
In 1971, the family acquired a Toyota franchise, and finally, the operation was moved to its latest site on Nashville Freeway in Columbia.
“My Dad would be so proud of this legacy with our 3rd era in place,” Roberts stated. “The Toyota brand name was just starting to get attention in this nation when Dad started out the dealership. He was a visionary to do so. Cackie and I know that Toyota has a amazing lineup of autos and trucks, and we are happy to be portion of the Toyota spouse and children.”
“It is form of frustrating understanding what to say to so several people who have been a part of our lives and our occupations,” Roberts claimed. “To see my grandchildren listed here, mates and sons in legislation. It is truly something.
“When my dreams turn out to be their anticipations, then I will be thriving.”