Ford Puts the Brakes on Firebaugh's Only New Car Dealership

January 30, 2013 Updated Jan 30, 2013 at 7:34 PM PDT

Westside Ford was the only new car dealership in Firebaugh.

And now, city administrators have to find a way to move on without it.

A Coke machine is among the final pieces being moved out of Westside Ford in Firebaugh.

The sign's been taken down...

The letters are on the showroom floor.

The car lot is empty...

The last one is inside... A Mustang Cobra.

And mechanics are finishing up their final jobs at this site.

It's a tough time, but they're doing it with a smile.

Employees will still have a job...

But some will have to commute now.

Operations are being consolidated with a Ford dealership in Los Banos... Also owned by the Santos family.

"Ford wants the location there. They've wanted to close down smaller towns for quite a while."

Westside general manager Michael Santos is also a partner at Santos Ford in Los Banos, where the company motto will stay the same...

"No suits. No ties. No lies."

He says Ford made the decision to consolidate, but a bad economy didn't help either.

Westside Ford did $12 million in sales last year

The dealership previously saw $18 or 19 million a year.

Santos could make a sale during Westside's last couple days of business...

"We'd probably have to go to Los Banos, pick it up and deliver it here."

But at the risk of sounding like a commercial, the deals are at Santos Ford in Los Banos.

"We had a sale last week to reduce inventory because we had inventory from both places so we still have sales going there, yes."

Santos says it'll be tough to leave a town that's been good to them for 32 years.

The feeling is the same at city hall.

Last year, Westside Ford accounted for $70,000 in sales tax revenue for the City of Firebaugh.

Firebaugh Mayor Marsha Sablan expects the city will be another $100,000 in the red without Westside Ford...

The city already has a $300,000 shortfall.

It could mean salary reductions, or an increase in taxes elsewhere...

But Firebaugh is looking for a business to come in, and pick up where Westside left off.

Westside ford officially closes its doors for good tomorrow.