Opening doors for the region
Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Graham Hadley
Nearly a year to the day after officials gathered in an empty field near Interstate 59 in Odenville to break ground on a major car dealership, All American Ford moved in and started selling cars and trucks.
The ceremony was seen as breaking ground on a new era for the region with All American Ford driving the economic impact. It didn’t take long to see that officials were right. In just the first 48 hours, they sold six brand-new vehicles.
That was quite a start. “It speaks well of things to come,” said co-owner John Makovicka. He and his wife, Katy, along with their partners, Frank and Jane Neal of Ft. Worth, Texas, saw the potential when settling on a site for the new dealership. They owned All American Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Oneonta, so they were already familiar with the area.
They collaborated with Ford on the decision of where to locate and after pulling the economic data sets, “the buzzer went off,” Makovicka recalled. “It was a great opportunity. This is a great place.”
And in late February, they opened the doors to the first full Ford signature-branded dealership in Alabama and Georgia. “Probably the Southeast,” Makovicka said.
Located on aptly named Mustang Avenue, the dealership is wall-to-wall state of the art. The 20,000-square-foot facility features free Type 1 and 2 electric charging stations and fast charging at a cost. With an eye toward the future, they are soon to be subsidized by solar power. All American has two stations now, and they are working on four more, Makovicka said.
It doesn’t take long to recognize the cutting-edge technology found throughout. Drive into the service area, and your vehicle is automatically laser screened to detect possible problems before you even reach a service representative.
In addition to servicing cars, trucks and SUVs, the service department is equipped to handle commercial vehicles. And customers can make themselves comfortable while they wait in the customer lounge, complete with snacks, a five-foot, fresh-roasted coffee machine and free Wi-Fi.
The showroom is an open concept with reception desk, sales areas and financing. Walls are filled with inspiring quotations from Ford founder, Henry Ford.
Makovicka, originally from Texas, sees the dealership as a means of bringing their Texas-sized hospitality and focus on community to Alabama. All American’s partners are dedicated to giving back to community, he said.
The dealership features a “community room” open to the public where after-hours events, training and meetings can be held. It can easily seat 30 people with plenty of space for two conference tables and chairs.
Back home in Fort Worth, the Neals have an engineering firm, but their hobby is cutting horses used to train children with disabilities. They also own a 50-year legacy ranch where they have served Austin, Texas with after-school programs that include horseback riding, archery, gymnastics, sports, and more.
All American’s partnership is built on community and giving back, he said. Even the official grand opening was a multi-day event with plenty of activities, food and fun to roll out the welcome mat to its new home.
Odenville Mayor Buck Christian knows their impact on community already. “When the City of Odenville annexed the property near I-59, we knew it would be good for our economic future. We certainly embrace residential growth, but we survive on commercial developments,” he said.
“The revenue it generates provides professional services to the citizens of Odenville and St. Clair County,” and their presence as well as their community involvement spells nothing but a brighter future for the entire area.
“The I-59 corridor remains an excellent opportunity for financial and commercial growth in St. Clair County,” the mayor said. “We’re excited to see All American Ford so well embraced by the community, and we’re confident in their success. We believe it will be a catalyst for even more growth opportunities in that area.”
As one of the six fastest-growing counties in the state, the addition of the first major vehicle dealership within the county on the I-59 corridor means good things lie ahead for St. Clair, said Commission Chairman Paul Manning.
“We see it as a catalyst for growth for the entire area,” Manning said. “St. Clair County certainly welcomes All American Ford. We know that it is a prime location for business, and we thank them for recognizing that and investing in our county.”
St. Clair Economic Development Council Executive Director Don Smith agreed. “John Makovicka and the entire Neal family have been a pleasure to work with on this exciting, new project. The company, City of Odenville, and the County Commission all worked very well together. We all believe it’s a perfect site in a fast-growing area. The new facility will benefit both the community and the business. Soon that exit will be known as the All American Ford exit.”
With 40 jobs created, a sizable economic investment and room to grow, the horizon looks even better for the I-59 corridor region, officials predict.
“All American Ford is a great addition to our community,” said Realtor and developer Lyman Lovejoy, who sold the property. He has surrounding parcels that are expected to be developed as well. “Through this development, you’re going to see more and more all around Highway 174 and I-59. This is a game changer for this part of our county.”
New dealership supercharging
other local businesses
When All American Ford announced St. Clair County as its new home, the benefits were obvious. A major commercial business locating at the Highway 174 interchange of Interstate 59 is the first major development at that exit.
It was easy to see the potential when the doors opened. But long before that, the economic impact was already being felt. When officials broke ground on the dealership,
Local businesses reaped the benefits of the announcement early on. Lovejoy Realty of Odenville sold the property to All American. Phifer Landscape Services of Pell City did the grounds work. Massey Paving of Argo handled the asphalt work. Goodgame Company of Pell City built the facility.
Subcontractors saw benefits as well. And City of Odenville will be on the receiving end of taxes generated through the dealership and the business growth it is likely to spur in the future.
Couple the early rewards with the 40 jobs All American created when at full capacity, and officials cannot disguise their excitement over the prospects. In February 2021, Odenville Mayor Buck Christian predicted, “It is the catalyst that will make this interstate interchange. You won’t recognize it in five years.”
With the state-of-the-art dealership now open for business, already booming in the early days, it is easy to imagine that the mayor’s prediction is well on its way to coming true.
