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After more than three decades in auto sales, Jim Crosswell has taken full ownership of the Manteno Ford dealership, a move that shifts his focus back to the village’s Route 50 corridor and could mean more jobs and new investment for the area. The purchase, completed on Feb. 19, positions Crosswell to expand operations and deepen a longtime local partnership between family and community.
Crosswell’s entry into the industry began in his late teens, washing cars to put himself through community college. That early work taught him basics of dealership life and how to build a business case — skills he used a few years later to secure financing and open his first used-car lot.
His career progressed from small independent lots to larger franchised operations. After selling his original store, Crosswell joined Dave Taylor at what became Taylor Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, rising through the ranks and becoming a partner in 2011. The partners acquired Manteno Ford in 2018, and until recently he balanced responsibilities at both dealerships.
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On Feb. 19, Crosswell and his wife, Chrystal, closed on the Manteno property and bought out their partner. Crosswell said he traded his stake in the Bradley dealership so he could concentrate fully on the Manteno location.
What this means for Manteno
Local leaders welcome the transition. Manteno’s mayor described the deal as a boost for municipal revenue and a potential catalyst for revitalizing businesses along Route 50 — a stretch that village officials say needs new investment to replace lost commerce.
Crosswell has made community ties part of his business model. The dealership’s stated mission emphasizes family, employee well-being and local support, and Crosswell frames growth as a way to give back rather than simply expand sales.
- Dealership: Crosswell Ford, 222 S. Locust St., Manteno
- Ownership: Sole owner as of Feb. 19
- Staffing: 30 full-time and 4 part-time employees
- Immediate plans: Add more service bays and expand the showroom
- Family involvement: Oldest son serves as sales manager
Family plays a visible role at the store: Crosswell’s eldest son manages sales, and other family members live locally or have ties to Manteno. Crosswell, who grew up in Georgia before his family moved to Watseka, says the personal connection to the village influenced his decision to focus on the Manteno operation.
He credits mentor figures for much of his industry knowledge, naming long-term colleagues who helped him learn dealership finance, operations and customer service. That mentorship, Crosswell says, shaped his approach to running a community-minded business.
Expansion and community impact
Plans to add bays and enlarge the showroom are intended to increase service capacity and bring more customers to town — moves that could mean steady work for technicians and more foot traffic for nearby merchants. Crosswell emphasizes employee welfare as central to his strategy, describing the dealership as a workplace where staff are treated fairly and encouraged to stay long-term.
For Manteno officials, a healthy auto dealer along Route 50 is more than a single business; it’s a sign of economic vitality. Local leaders hope the purchase will not only preserve tax revenue but spur additional interest from other businesses considering the corridor.
Crosswell frames the transition simply: he could step back and retire, but he prefers to keep building a business that supports employees and the community. With full ownership now in hand, he plans to concentrate resources on improving facilities, deepening local ties and ensuring the dealership contributes to Manteno’s economic recovery.
