V ince Sheehy can recall his disappointment in having to close his Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership in Upper Marlboro in 2009. At the time, it had been more than 30 years since Fairfax-based Sheehy Auto Stores shuttered a location because of slumping sales. ¶ But closing the store was just the half of it.
¶ Sluggish demand left Sheehy saddled with excess inventory of trucks that took six months to clear off the lots, which meant high carrying costs. The company also laid off more than 50 employees across its network of 14 dealerships in the Washington area. And the remaining staff took pay cuts to ensure no one else would lose their job. ¶
