Longtime Moses Lake resident takes over car lot

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Senior Staff Writer
| November 9, 2007 8:00 PM

Aces aims for quality reputation

MOSES LAKE - A longtime Moses Lake resident's love of cars led him to take over a used car dealership.

Owner Mike Strickland opened Aces Auto Sales, located at 704 W. Third Ave., at the beginning of September.

Strickland said he has resided in Moses Lake for the majority of his life.

"Grew up here, a Moses Lake native," he said. "We moved here when I was like 3 years old, so raised here, graduated from here. I left for a while when I was in the Navy … I like the area, it's just home to me. I guess there's something about this place that just draws you back."

Strickland also owns Strickland Exteriors, which he started in the early 1990s, and also does a lot of drag racing, so he was looking for another venture.

"It's been pretty good," he said of business since opening Aces. "The longer we're here, the more established we get, the better it seems to get. We get more and more people all the time coming in. We're starting to sell a few cars."

Strickland has been drag racing for about six years.

"Just the thrill of it," he explained. "The competition, of course, is part of it, and then the rush of the actual ride."

The new business doesn't really relate to Strickland's hobby beyond his love of cars, he said.

"I guess in a weird sort of way they kind of intertwine, but at the same time, they don't," he said. "(Aces) was another venture I wanted to start due to the fact I love cars and race cars."

Strickland enjoys meeting and talking to different people in the business.

"Something different every day," he said.

Aces specializes in late model used cars, trucks and SUVs.

Strickland anticipates things will go well.

"We haven't been here very long, but it seems like every week we get more and more people coming in," he said.

For the moment, the business consists of Strickland and his sales manager, but there are plans to expand as things get busier.

"My goals for the business would be to sell a lot of cars," he said with a laugh. "To have an honest business, to sell a lot of quality cars. To give people a fair shake and send them out of here in a quality car they're going to enjoy."

For more information, call 509-766-4223.