The owners of Art Kuzma Motors closed the garage doors for the last time Jan. 31, ending a legacy that was 86 years in the making. “It’s a good legacy,” reflected Alan Kuzma, the family owner of the used car dealership, which was one of Clark County’s oldest businesses. The parting, though, is bittersweet. After suffering through the death of one of his brothers and of two of his close friends, Alan Kuzma and his family decided to wind down operations. Though he’d run the business with each of his brothers through the years, Alan was its final owner. “It’s hard because it’s been our life for so many years, but it’s time,” said Patty Kuzma. She and Alan married shortly after he began working full time for his father, Art Kuzma. That was almost 47 years ago. Art Kuzma died 33 years ago and his wife, Martha, followed three years later. They too sold cars for half a century. Alan Kuzma takes pride in the fact that they were able to keep the business going for so long after his parents died.

Art Kuzma began selling cars in 1936. As one of the dealership’s top salesmen, he decided to open his own business. When he opened his shop in downtown Vancouver, it was located across the street from the Vancouver police station. He held a radio contest to come up with a theme. The winner was “A safe place to buy.” Eventually Kuzma moved his business to Hazel Dell, bringing the iconic triangular sign with him. In November 1983, Art Kuzma Motors found its permanent home off Northeast Highway 99. The business brought on a new generation of employees. Ron Simmons was the first staffer hired at the new building and he continued to work at Art Kuzma Motors until it closed. “We have a lot of loyal employees and customers,” said Alan Kuzma. The family business was multigenerational. Alan Kuzma and each of his three brothers worked there, as did all of their children. His son, Nathan Kuzma, and Nathan’s wife, Traci Kuzma, helped to run the business in its final years.

Their son, Jonas Kuzma, became the fourth generation to have worked at the car store — in detailing. “They’re sweet memories,” said Alan Kuzma. “It always was just a good business for our family,” said Nathan Kuzma. “It’s always been there since I was a kid — a part of our family’s identity.” The younger Kuzma sees the change as good, though. While his dad and mom plan to travel and make the most of retirement, he’s going to focus on his family’s real estate business. As its staff was multigenerational, so too were its customers. Families would buy from the dealership for generations, buying from Art, Alan and then Nathan. With Art Kuzma’s legacy in hand, the company weathered highs and lows — the Arab oil embargo, Sept. 11, recessions, the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, and then escalating car prices caused by the recent supply chain shortage.

When reflecting on so many years in car sales, Alan Kuzma thinks backs to his dad’s philosophy. “Have an honest business, sell good-quality products, treat people right — like family, and they’re the ones that will keep you going during the slow times,” he said. Art Kuzma spent many years building a reputation for honesty and quality cars, said Nathan Kuzma. That was an unusual reputation in car sales, he added. It was something he would often tell customers. “He spent the years building the reputation. All we have to do is not screw it up. It’s a good name that stood before us,” Nathan Kuzma said. When Art Kuzma passed away in 1990, the business ran an ad in The Columbian saying, “The Legacy Continues.” It did for thousands of customers, many family employees and for another 33 years.