Ex-Ponderosa folks open L.A. Auto Rack

MOSES LAKE — Co-owners Les Loy and Jerry Smith make up L.A. Auto Rack, a used vehicle business now open on Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake.

L.A. stands for Smith’s real initials (Leslie Albert) and rack is like Nordstrom’s, right off the rack, Loy explained.

They also thought L.A. sounded cool, he added.

“We’ll find a car to fit you,” Loy said. “I think our niche is more little trucks and SUVs. Cleaner, older low mileage stuff.”

They are located in the former Paw Buddies & More store building, located at 1036 W. Broadway Ave., in Moses Lake.

The pair also worked together at Ponderosa Nissan in Moses Lake before it closed last year.

Smith was Ponderosa’s general manager and Loy was a buyer there.

“It’s always kind of a little scary starting off on a new business,” Loy said. “We’re pretty confident. We’ve been doing this a long time. It just takes a little while to get it going. We knew it was going to be a little slow the first couple of months.”

Loy’s been in the business for 38 years and agreed he’s built relationships at the auto auctions and with dealers.

Before deciding on opening the business in Moses Lake, they looked at other locations in Ellensburg, Yakima, Othello and Ephrata.

“Jerry lives here in town,” Loy said. “We’ve always had a good rapport with the clientele here and I like Moses Lake.”

Loy once owned a car lot back East and Smith learned the business during his 13 years at Ponderosa, they explained.

“I don’t think we’re pie in the sky,” Loy said. “We’re hoping by the middle of summer to open another lot.” They also want to hire two salespeople later this year.

The business currently doesn’t offer in-house financing, but hopes to do so in the future, Loy said.

Former customers have stopped in at their new business, with 10 to 15 people visiting per day, Loy said.

Smith commented on their business’s location, which is near a traffic light at the corner of Third Avenue and Broadway Avenue.

“This is probably the best location,” Smith said.

Loy called the traffic conversion perfect.

Loy stressed the importance of providing one-owner vehicles that are clean and have low miles.

“When you’re buying stuff, you don’t have to buy the rough stuff,” Loy added. “We’re trying to find the clean stuff and to hopefully stay under the $15,000 range.”

Their business offers all types of cars, including Chevrolets, Fords, Volkswagens and Dodges, with prices ranging from $3,999 to $15,999, he said.

“We’re here to serve the people,” Loy said. “If we don’t have it, we’ll find it.”

Winter business hours are from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 509-764-5187 or 509-764-5476.