TOLEDO CHRONICLE – Joel Thys, Blairstown, brings more than 26 years of dealership sales and service experience with him to Thys Chevrolet in Toledo which is hosting a big “Grand Opening Tailgate Giveaway” event all this week, Tuesday- Saturday, July 5-9. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday they’ll be open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.., from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday.

“We believe that service is taking care of customers and making sure they’ve had a pleasant experience,” Thys said of the Thys Auto Group way of doing business. “If they’re happy in the service department, they’ll come up front and buy a vehicle from us.”

For the grand opening, along with a grand prize, there’s a free lunch each day from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. served by the Tama County Pork Producers and Tama County Cattlemen who are teaming up for the event.

Other specials include the reward of a $10 Pamida gift card with a test drive and a low price oil and filter change.

On the staff at Thys Chevrolet here are Chad Duncan, general manager, Paula Rohach sales – marketing and Barry Papesh, sales.

Service – parts manager is Darrin Upah. Darrin Rieck, with more than 20 years vehicle repair experience, and Jovi Smith are service technicians.

Chase Schuett works on ground maintenance.

Thys bought the then-closed Family Auto at the junction of U.S. 63 and Business Highway 30 in March, 2010. It is now part of the Thys Auto Group which includes the Chevrolet dealership in Blairstown, the Chrysler – Dodge – Jeep – Ram Trucks location in Belle Plaine and a used car, lawn mower and golf cart operation in Victor.

Joel Thys started working at the B and B Motors in Belle Plaine in 1984 and continued there until going to work for Shaull-Ulrich Chevrolet in Blairstown in 1990. He worked for Iowa Glass for a period then returned to the Blairstown dealership which he purchased in 2003.

On the same day he bought it he opened the used car and small engine business in Victor.

He acquired Johnson Bros. Motor Company in Belle Plaine in October, 2008.

All four businesses were brought under the Thys Auto Group banner at the beginning of this year.