Published April 2001

Seaview to add Pontiac/GMC dealership
to Lynnwood lot

By Kimberly Hilden
Herald Business Journal Assistant Editor

Competition in the automotive industry is “fierce,” Seaview Chevrolet President Chris Olson says. You’ve got to work hard and long, and you’ve got to give good deals to customers so they keep coming back.

And giving them new cars and trucks to choose from can’t hurt, either.

Which is why Seaview Chevrolet will be adding a Pontiac/GMC dealership to its 7-acre Lynnwood property by the end of the year.

Seaview already has begun selling the first shipment of the new line. As early as March, Seaview had more than 500 new and used vehicles on the lot, including the new line of Pontiac and GMC cars and trucks, Olson said.

“We’re going to sell the new product at the existing facility ’til the new facility is built,” he said. “We’ve got all kinds of Pontiacs — Firebirds, Grand Ams, Grand Prixs — the whole line of Pontiacs and GMCs,” including Yukons and Yukon Denalis.

The new facility, which will be between 16,000 and 17,000 square feet, will include a 16-bay service department, a parts department and a dealership area, Olson said, adding that the cost of the facility will run between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Construction is set to begin within four months and will take about four months to complete, Olson said.

Seaview, which has been at 17909 Highway 99 since 1989, employs about 100, said Olson, who plans on eventually adding 60 to 75 employees to staff the new facility.

According to the Auto Industry Cross-Sell Reports, Seaview was one of the top 15 new-car dealers in Snohomish County between October 1999 and October 2000 and one of the top five used-car dealers in the county.

Olson credits the dealership’s success to its customer service.

“You’ve just got to take care of them, treat them right. That’s the key,” he said.

Back to the top/April 2001 Main Menu