Two new car dealerships in Fairfield, Bossier Country and Bossier Hyundai, were locked Friday afternoon and employees told to go home.

The dealerships are owned by Scott Bossier of Fairfield and Randy Pretzer of Limestone county.

Bossier Country sells Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep and Chevrolet vehicles and has been in business for 22 years.

The partners opened Bossier Hyundai in 2007.

Pretzer reports that they have retained the franchises, which could be sold if there are any takers, but he does not foresee the Bossier dealerships reopening.

Over the years, the dealership has been a major buyer at the Freestone County Fair junior livestock show, sponsored college scholarships, sponsored the county fair rodeo and a separate Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo and was named “Business of the Year” by the chamber of commerce.

The business reported $76 million in gross sales in 2005-06 and employed about 75 people.

For much of the past year, though, Bossier and Pretzer have been embroiled in a courtroom fight with Chrysler Financial and with a potential buyer for a Waxahachie Chrysler-Dodge dealership it owned.

At a hearing in Freestone county 77th District Court in November, during which Chrysler Financial sought to repossess vehicles and equipment at Bossier Country, the business filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Chrysler Financial claimed at the hearing that Bossier Country was delinquent in making payments on its floorplan loan.

Freestone county joined the Chrysler Financial lawsuit, claiming the county and other entities were owed $50,743 in taxes on vehicles and parts.

The Chapter 11 filing halted the November proceedings to give Bossier Country time to reorganize and secure new financing.

Several court hearings on the bankruptcy have been held over the last few months, including last week prior to the dealership closing.

“We lost our hearing on Friday. Our financing came unwound the day before,” Pretzer says.

He explains that without new financing, the bankruptcy hearing judge ended proceedings.

Chrysler Financial now can claim the vehicles on the lot, both Chrysler and Chevrolet makes, and busi- ness equipment.

“We may, or may not, retain ownership of the building,” Pretzer says.

As for their futures, Pretzer says he can find a job with a car dealership and Bossier is a certified public accountant.

“I think I’m employable,” Pretzer says.

He does put to rest a rumor circulating around Fairfield, that they are selling the property to Wal- Mart.

“I never heard of such a thing,” Pretzer declares.