Wright Place Holds Grand Reopening

PITTSFIELD — A longtime Pike County, Illinois business is welcoming customers at a new location after a fire destroyed its former home earlier this year.

Wright Place Car Sales held a grand reopening Saturday, May 30, at its new location at 1232 West Washington Street in Pittsfield, marking a new chapter for owner Peter Wright and a business that has served the community for 35 years.

The reopening comes four months after Wright Place Auto Body was destroyed by fire at its former location near Memorial and Adams streets in Pittsfield. The January fire wiped out the building, equipment and decades of accumulated business property. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Wright said he knew early on that he wanted to continue doing business in Pittsfield. Following the fire, community members helped by donating desks and offering assistance, while local connections helped point him toward the new West Washington Street location.

The business is now focusing primarily on vehicle sales under the Wright Place Car Sales name. Wright said the new location offers greater visibility and has already helped bring increased traffic through the lot.

A little more than a month after returning to business, Wright said sales had been stronger than expected and the business had met its goals for the month. Wright was also able to retain most of his employees, while vehicle service for customers remains a work in progress.

For Wright, the grand reopening represented more than a business event. It marked a recovery from a devastating loss and reflected the support shown by the Pittsfield and Pike County, Illinois community following the fire.

Wright Place Car Sales is located at 1232 West Washington Street in Pittsfield. The business can be reached at 217-285-4076.