Family, tradition at the root of company’s growth, expansion
Joel Jabaay is the third generation behind the wheel at Jabaay Motors.
The family-owned business is heading in new directions, with its latest location now open at 8120 Grant Street in Merrillville, while building on its Lansing and NWI roots.
“My grandpa (Dorn) started back in 1954. He was originally in Munster, went to Lansing and has been there for about 40 years,” Joel said. “We wanted to have something in Indiana as both my dad (Jim) and I live here.
“My grandpa and dad obviously grew up in it as did I. My grandpa retired so now I work with my dad.”
With the Lansing location remaining open, Joel will run the Merrillville showroom, which is open 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment mornings and Saturdays.
The 16,000-square-foot facility features an inventory of used cars from Mustangs to BMWs to Vipers to Corvettes.
“We specialize in a lot of unique stuff. Our biggest thing is real nice vehicles with real low miles,” Joel said.
While Jim concentrates on the purchasing end of the business, Joel has found a niche marketing Jabaay online.
“My dad does almost all of the buying. He’s been in it almost his whole life so he’s very experienced,” Joel said.
“The Internet has been my niche what I got into after school. I started doing the advertising on there, started out small and it kept growing and growing.”
Jabaay has customers all over the U.S. and the world, offering shipping and airport pick-up for those who fly in after purchasing a new vehicle.
“I’ve sold cars to the majority of the states from California to Alaska to Florida to New York to New Jersey,” Joel said.
“I just sold a Mustang six months ago to a customer in Germany and that was the second car that I sold him. I got a repeat customer from overseas.”
Jabaay offers financing assistance and the staff details and services all of the vehicles before they hit the showroom floor.
“When the car leaves us, that’s my name, my dad’s name on the back,” Joel said. “If a car needs to be washed before a customer comes to pick it up, I’ll be out there washing it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Joel said he and his dad are looking forward to the company’s future.
“We’re confident that it’s going to continue to grow and our business has. Obviously when my grandpa started out he would have 10 cars, 20 cars in stock and now it’s to the point where we have 200-plus in inventory,” he said.
“Business continues to grow and our sales continue to grow. We’ve been blessed.”
For more information: www.jabaay.com