Earnhardt Chevrolet opens in Queen Creek

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In November, Earnhardt Auto Centers opened its latest dealership, Earnhardt Chevrolet in Queen Creek. This 70,000-square-foot location offers new and certified pre-owned Chevrolet vehicles, along with all makes and models of used cars. The Earnhardt family is excited to increase its presence in this community!

Image courtesy of Greater Phoenix In Business

As a full-service store, Earnhardt Chevrolet features a state-of-the-art showroom with modern amenities for shoppers and customers of the service department. The service department also features fully equipped service bays and a staff of accredited Chevrolet technicians. The parts store offers Chevrolet parts, GM Accessories, a full selection of tires and an array of maintenance services for almost any make or model of vehicle.

“We are truly thrilled to open the doors to our Chevy store in Queen Creek,” said Derby Earnhardt, Dealer Principal of the new location. He’s also the grandson of Earnhardt Auto Centers patriarch Tex Earnhardt. “This community is growing rapidly and our family run dealership group is proud to be part of it. It’s our second dealership here. My parents live here. My siblings and I grew up here. This is where we have roots, so we look forward to serving Queen Creek and the surrounding areas with our ‘No Bull’ neighborly approach to buying and servicing cars and trucks.”

Images courtesy of Earnhardt Auto Centers

This new site plans to employ more than 100 people in its sales, service, parts and financing departments. Overall, Earnhardt Auto Centers employs more than 2,000 individuals in the Phoenix metro area.

Image courtesy of Earnhardt Auto Centers

Located at 24645 S. Ellsworth Road in Queen Creek, Earnhardt Chevrolet is a relocation of the dealership’s prior location on Arizona Avenue in Chandler. The team at the new location has already mentioned plans to sponsor and support events and groups within the local community.

Founder Tex Earnhardt started Earnhardt Auto Centers in 1951 with a Chandler-based Ford franchise. Over the years, the company expanded, opening more dealerships with Tex at the forefront. Tex’s sons, Hal and Jim Babe, joined the business, and later Tex’s grandsons, Derby, Dodge and Bull, also took leadership roles. Today, Earnhardt Auto Centers represents 15 brands at 17 dealerships throughout the Phoenix area.

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.