DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / June 17, 2000

VACHERIE – From father to son, the Cazenave Ford Dealership is a third generation family-owned business which has survived through the all the good and bad times the country has encountered in 85 years.

In 1915, E.V. Cazenave began the small dealership in a one-car garage in St.John Parish with three cars on consignment and one newspaper advertisement. Now the Cazenave family works out of the well-known old redbrick dealership in Vacherie, selling 500 vehicles last year.

Since the beginning of the business many things have changed, the Mississippi has shifted its course, cars have radically changed shape, the face of the country has evolved due to technology and the amazing growth in population. Stepping into the Cazenave dealership, one can see that they’veadjusted with the times as well, but the spirit of the place, the old time quality and professionalism has continued to be a cornerstone of this long- lasting family business.

E.V. brought his boys into the business as they grew up, R.J. after the warand E.V. Jr. in 1949. On down the line, their boys came into the company justas their fathers had before them in 1975; Jimmy, R.J.’s boy; and Steve andthen Paul, E.V. Jr.’s sons.In 1925, Cazenave moved over the river to Vacherie. Still currently in use,the large red brick dealership was built. Inside it looks almost like it did 75years before. The front has changed, cubicles installed and such, butstepping into the shop one can’t help to see the old wood with peg joints.

“You just don’t build them like this anymore, too expensive,” said E.V. Jr.In the front there are various old black and white pictures and awards showing the history of Cazenave’s. In the shop, the scent of the wood,grease and mechanics mix together to remind you of its past. The lightfixtures and other random items still hang about, well out-dated but not out of use. If it weren’t for the new equipment and style of the current cars, onecould almost believe it was 50 years in the past.

E.V. Jr. remembers what his dad used to tell him about the business. Backthen the Cazenaves dealt mainly in cars and the old Fordson tractors, with the steel wheels. “He’d sell one, and replace it” and that’s how they gotstarted, said E.V. Jr.Jud Reynaud, childhood friend of Jimmy’s, remembers seeing the old Ford Model T’s and old parts, long out-dated but still lying around, dating the dealership. All the old parts have been sold off now, but E.V. remembersthem clearly. “You could get a new Model A and in any color you wanted, aslong as it was black,” said E.V. Jr., remembering the old Henry Ford motto.Back then their territory consisted of the west bank from St. Charles Parishto St. James Parish. You worked in your territory. “A franchise or territorymeant something back then,” said E.V. Jr. Other dealerships respected yourarea and you their’s. If someone sold a car in another man’s dealership,they’d hear about it.

Nowadays such respect of territory no longer exists, he added. The loss ofthat code of conduct may be missed, but it hasn’t hurt the Cazenave’s they’ve out lasted dealerships in Lutcher, Vacherie, Donaldsonville and more, often larger then themselves. The reason is their family style of operating.”Our customers can come into the service department and talk to us,” said Jimmy. When they deliver a new car to the customer, they receive the men’shome phone numbers. “They’ll call the house and talk and talk with us,”Jimmy added.

As a third generation car dealers, the Cazenave’s have many third- generation family customers. “We provide people with everything we can,that’s why we’ve stuck around so long,” said Jimmy. “We’re glad to havethem, they’ve helped us out so much,” added E.V. Jr. The Cazenave’s dealwith their customers honestly and in turn they’ve received loyal repeat, repeat and repeat customers since 1915.

The Ford company recognizes the good standing the Cazenave’s have had in the River Parishes. Their walls are lined with service awards and otherplaques. They’ve even received the Ford Chairman’s award, the highestdealer award in the nation, a few times. “We’re not a fancy place,” but we doour best, said E.V. Jr.The business is still going strong. The addition of the Veteran’s MemorialBridge, just down the road has helped a lot. The ferry was harder to crossand less sales were made then to the east bank. The big sellers nowadaysare the trucks and SUVs. E.V. Jr. prefers his favorites. “I liked the Model A,the 1957 Thunderbird and the 1977 T-Bird too,” he said.

It’s amazing to see such a business, passed down by a fathers efforts for 85 years. A business like that almost seems to become as part of the familyas the individuals themselves. In that respect the Cazenave’s are goodpeople and so is there business, thus the long record of faithful customers.

“They’ve kept the business around as long as we have,” said Jimmy. Withthat kind of mutual respect it’s easy to see why it is among the oldest, if not the oldest, family Ford Dealership in the state of Louisiana.

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