Chevy dealer marks 50 years

A display at Petersen Chevrolet shown Friday afternoon in Fairbury.

After college, Mike Petersen came back to help has dad in the car business and felt that was where he belonged.

Petersen runs Petersen Chevrolet in Fairbury today alongside his family.

“We are here to help people and make their transportation needs a little easier,” Petersen told Fairbury News this week during the dealership’s 50th anniversary observance with Chevrolet.

Customers helped mark 50 years of the local Chevrolet dealership with different events all week that led to Friday’s evening celebration with a meal, cruise-in, children’s activities and live music.

“We’ve had some old-time customers come in for the coffee and we’ve had a lot of people sign up for drawings,” Petersen explained.

The history behind Petersen’s was displayed on story boards in the showroom.

“My grandfather, father and his brother started in Anchor in 1954.”

The opportunity opened up in Fairbury in the early 1970s when Mike’s uncle and dad came to town to open the Chrysler store and the opportunity for the Chevrolet store came in 1975.

Mike and his brother opened a Chrysler store in Gibson City in 1987, which is still going strong.

“We love our Chryslers – that’s where we started,” adds Petersen.

They are always selling at Petersen’s and the crew is excited about the new Chevy Silverado EV truck.

If you are in need of service or a different vehicle, Petersen hopes you stop by.

Visitors fill the showroom Friday at Petersen Chevrolet in Fairbury.

The view from Route 24 of Petersen Chevrolet on the west end of Fairbury.