When Sam Wolf Used Cars opened in Indianapolis in the 1930s, the city shopped at corner grocers, neighborhood druggists and downtown dime stores.

Most of these homegrown retailers have long ago given way to Walgreens, Wal-Mart and other national retail chains. Through it all, Sam Wolf Used Cards has thrived for over 65 years, on the same corner, providing quality used cars to generations of families.

“Massive Personal Service is how we stay in business,” says owner Ed Wolf. Today, his East Washington lot stocks about 25 vehicles culled from new-car dealers throughout the state that took them in on trades. After Wolf sold a 1994 Jeep Cherokee as-is with a cracked rear tail light, he said he discovered a manager had ordered a new $35 lens for the sport utility vehicle.

Rather than return the lens and get his money back from the wholesaler, Wolf said he made sure the Cherokee buyer got the plastic piece free of charge. “I make a nice living with service like that,” Wolf said.

Excerpted from an article in The Indianapolis Star, March 1, 2004 - By Ted Evanoff.