Highway 78 Wholesale in Jasper has always been a family business, but it now has three generations of family working together.
Keith Allen opened the used car dealership nearly 20 years ago. Justin Allen, his son, has worked at the dealership for most of its time in operation, and his son, Mason Allen joined the family business a couple of months ago.
“I never thought we’d have three generations here,” Keith Allen said. “It’s really neat, but it’s not something I would have thought about 20 years ago. I’m definitely proud of it.”
Justin Allen has worked at the lot since nearly its opening, running errands and driving cars around for his dad in the early days.
“I wanted to help. I would do anything he would let me, and then I started working here full time. I wouldn’t change it at all,” he said.
Absolutely it 18 years later us when Justin’s on son asked if he could join the business.
“Mason came on board a couple months ago, and he’s done a great job picking up things,” Justin Allen said.
“Mason can already handle the lot on his own, even selling a couple of cars on his own one day,” Keith Allen said.
Mason Allen said helping people find a vehicle is special.
“I enjoy helping people, and getting them in a car they like for a price they can afford. Making those connections are special,” he said.
With nearly 20 years in business, Keith Allen said repeat customers and word of mouth advertising has been keys for the dealership averaging 30 to 35 cars sold per month.
“Most of the cars we sell are either to people we’ve sold to before or to someone that was sent to us by a person we’ve sold to in the past,” he said. “That in itself goes a long way to show how we are thought of in the community.”
Keith Allen said the three generations is unique, but everyone who works at the lot is like family.
“Most everyone we have here has worked for us for a long time,” he said.
Justin Allen said everyone within this business is like family.
“We treat everybody as family. If something is going on in someone’s life, we are there for them. They are family,” he said.
All the Allens said they appreciate the relationships they have with other car dealers in the area.
“We have a great working relationship with the other dealers in town, and that has been helpful over the years,” he said.
For more information on Highway 78 Wholesale, call 205–221-3888 or visit the lot at 3804 Highway 78 E in Jasper.
