SAN ANTONIO -
Sparking City Auto Auction of San Antonio recently celebrated its grand opening with a sale that attracted more than 300 dealers and included 300 vehicles.
The facility — which was constructed in 2008 and purchased last summer by the owners of Sparkling City Auto Auction of Corpus Christi — features five auction lanes, a full-service detail shop and a 12,000-square-foot office.
The auction — located on 33 acres of land — is owned by Wade Walker and is managed by his daughter, Ashley Dietze, and her husband, Weldon Dietze.
“The turnout at our grand opening sale was phenomenal,” Ashley Dietze shared. “We welcomed more than 300 dealers to the sale, who came to bid on a consignment of 300 vehicles running on two lanes, including vehicles from Cavender Chevrolet, Mac Haic Ford, Cavender Audi and Western Funding.
She added: “It was great to greet some old friends who followed us to San Antonio Corpus Christi, but we were equally thrilled to see a lot of new faces, as dealers from the San Antonio area arrived to find out what Sparkling City brings to the San Antonio market.”
During the facility’s premiere sale, the certified pre-owned manager at Cavender Audi, Chuck Rogers, sold 100 percent of his consignment and has apparently consigned units at the auction’s weekly sale ever since thanks to that success.
“It’s a clean, professional, customer-oriented facility run by great people who don’t hesitate to get things done,” Rogers commented. “Sparkling City Auto Auction has set a new standard in customer service!”
Dealer attendees were given hats, visors and coffee mugs bearing logos, and also were entered into cash prize drawings.
They were also received a catered barbecue pork dinner after the sale.
“We are thrilled to be here in San Antonio and are looking forward to the new year,” Walker stated. "We have high expectations for a lot of new business, including national accounts that will be coming on board.
“As we’re fond of saying, ‘this isn’t our first rodeo’: although this auction may be new to San Antonio, we’re not new to the auction business,” he continued. “We’ve been in the business a long time and are looking forward to expanding our opportunities in San Antonio.”