—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Adri Sietstra Spangler Automotive Sales Manager Jeff MacRunnel, left, and Spangler Automotive Internet Sales Manager Michael Janson, right, are pictured above at the newly opened Webster City location Tuesday afternoon. The business officially opened June 1.

Webster City recently welcomed their newest auto dealer to town. Brian Spangler, owner of Spangler Automotive, in Glidden, made the decision to expand his business by purchasing the old Pizza Hut building and transforming it into a car sales lot.

Spangler, 35, and a former Webster City resident, now resides in Coon Rapids with his wife, Jen and two children, ages 7 and 5.

Spangler worked for a new car store before starting his own automotive sales business. Spangler began selling cars when he was 18 years old. He has sold cars in Fort Dodge, Coon Rapids and now Glidden. He decided to open up his own lot to give customers a more positive service. Spangler opened up shop in Glidden in 2010.

“Customers were having issues with stuff and they weren’t being taken care of how I would take care of a customer,” Spangler said. “So I decided I would just go out on my own and start my own.”

This January, Spangler began looking at expanding his inventory and purchasing an additional lot in Webster City. The Webster City lot is located in the former Pizza Hut building at 1118 Second St. The new lot was purchased in January and opened for business on June 1.

At both locations, customers can peruse a large selection of used and pre-owned vehicles.

“I also have plenty of outlets to get new cars. If someone wanted a new car, we could assist them with that,” Spangler said.

According to Spangler, the majority of vehicles still have a warranty on them as well.

“We offer extended warranties,” said Spangler. “At our Glidden location we also do some detailing.”

Spangler also decided to open up the Webster City location so that two local employees would be able to have a better commute and hours. Customers at the new location will see two familiar faces. Jeff MacRunnel and Michael Janson, both Webster City natives.

“I know Jeff MacRunnel well and Michael Janson. They had both worked for me…I approached Jeff about buying a building in Webster City and starting a car lot here,” Spangler said.

Jeff MacRunnel, 34, is the Sales Manager at Spangler Automotive. He has been selling cars since he was 19. Individuals that visit the Webster City location can visit with MacRunnel about their needs and wants in a vehicle.

He and his wife, Jaclyn, live in Webster City with their daughters Ashlyn, age 14, Zoe, age 7, and Hadley, age 4.

“I live here. My kids go to school here,” said MacRunnel. “I really wanted to be involved in the community.”

The first two weeks of business have been great according to MacRunnel.

“It’s been really good,” MacRunnel said. “We couldn’t thank the community enough. I’ve had a real awesome welcome from friends, family and past customers. It’s really been overwhelming.”

Spangler offers a diverse selection of vehicles that area competitors may not carry, according to MacRunnel. He hopes to fill the “void” in product in Webster City.

“We’re going to try provide the best quality product for the best price we possibly can and really just stand behind our product,” said MacRunnel.

Michael Janson is the Internet Sales Manager at Spangler Automotive. Janson resides in Webster City. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2008 and first sold insurance for Nationwide out of Des Moines. He worked for Webster City RV for the last six years before dabbling in insurance again. Janson began working with Spangler when the new location opened up in Webster City this June.

Janson credits his love of cars and mechanics as to why this position at Spangler fits him so well.

“I’ve always had a big passion for cars and it was something I thought I’d be good at. That was the reasoning for getting involved in car sales in Webster City,” Janson said.

Janson is in charge of internet sales, updating the business’s website, business communications and connecting customers to cars online. Janson also assists MacRunnel with the day-to-day aspects of the business.

“My goal is to help as many people in Webster City as I can,” Janson said. “My goal is to get customers into something that they can enjoy for a long time and also try to bring in some good out of town customers and show them what we can provide for them.”

“Overall, the transition to Webster City has been positive,” said Spangler. “We’ve only been open for 13 days and we’ve sold 12 cars already.”

Spangler hopes to have 50 cars on the lot available for purchase in the near future and hopes that customers will check out the recently opened shop.

“It’s been good,” Spangler said. “We’ll continue to provide a great service and quality car that a lot of the competitors can’t.”

For hours and more information about Spangler Automotive, call (515) 209-8024 or visit www.spanglerautomotive.com.