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New owner will take over Auto Amigos in Palatine

Customer service in three languages will be a feature of a Rand Road used-car business expected to open next month under new ownership in Palatine.

Palatine village council members Monday night approved the transfer of a special-use permit allowing Auto Land Group Inc. to take over the used-car operation at 2240 N. Rand Road. Auto Land, which already has a Northwest Highway office in Palatine, will receive the permit as part of a deal to replace Auto Amigos Group and Services at the site.

Under the plan, Auto Land will receive Auto Amigos' car inventory in December. Auto Land representatives, in a letter to the village, touted what they believe will be the company's customer service advantages over other similar businesses.

Auto Land will have employees fluent in English, Spanish and French. Another plus cited by Auto Land will be a vast business network involving its ownership group and an "exclusive" marketing plan.

Customers are projected to come to Auto Land from a 15-mile radius for foreign and domestic vehicles. It will occupy a 1,871-square-foot building on property that has 94 spaces for car displays.

Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said after Monday's council session that used car businesses provide "a decent sales tax" annually.

"We don't have a demand for services," Ottesen said. "They're not calling police and fire, so there's not an expense side that goes with it for us."

At Rand and Hicks roads, the Carromatic used-car business at Rand and Hicks roads had a sign promoting its grand opening Monday.

In addition, a used-car operation owned by Tony and Fino D'Agostaro will open at 1494 W. Northwest Hwy. at North Doe Road. Village council members two weeks ago approved a special-use permit allowing the family to operate in the building they own.

Auto Land, led by President Luis F. Ramirez and Vice President Joel Gonzalez, will be required to make improvements over the next year to the site at 2240 N. Rand including installation of parkway trees, additional fencing and parking lot striping.

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