Seventy years ago, the book “Gone With The Wind” was a top-seller and the United States wasn’t yet involved in World War II. The Baby Boom generation wouldn’t begin for 10 years, and Arlington was a tiny bedroom community outside Washington. The Buckingham apartment community was newly constructed, and Clarendon was a sleepy little strip of shops on Wilson Boulevard. Glebe Road was the principle north-south thoroughfare through Arlington, along which it intersected with North Randolph Street.
The corner at that intersection has changed its appearance a number of times during the past 70 years, but the business located there is, in most respects, the same one that opened its doors on June 3, 1937. Saul Brooks opened his Amoco station on that day, unaware that it would evolve into one of the country’s top Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The business was called “American Service Center,” a name that referred to the American Oil Company (Amoco) and the fact that it was a service station. (For those accustomed to today’s self-serve pumps, in those days gas stations performed automobile service and repairs in addition to filling your tank for you.)
By the 1950s, Mr. Brooks’ business had grown into a combined Studebaker dealership and appliance store, enjoying an excellent relationship with customers in the Washington area. Mercedes-Benz cars were added to the showrooms in the late 1950s, when only veterans who had served in Europe were aware of the brand’s high level of engineering. Mr. Brooks’ son, Alvin, was working at the dealership at that time, and in 1957 he quickly teamed with Mr. Brooks’ son-in-law, Mort Zetlin, a used car salesman/manager, to grow the business.
By the late ’70s, Studebaker had long faded into automotive history and American Service Center had become an important Mercedes-Benz dealership. It was also the No. 1 Fiat dealership at the time, continuing that relationship until the Italian automaker pulled out of the U.S. market in the mid-1980s.
The daily operation of the business is still in the capable hands of Alvin Brooks and Mr. Zetlin. Mark Zetlin, Mr. Zetlin’s son, is now the new Mercedes-Benz sales manager, and Stewart Beloff, Alvin Brooks” son-in-law, is the pre-owned car sales manager. Every day, they remind themselves of Mr. Brooks’ most often used directive: “Take care of the customer; that’s the main thing.”
Today, through the hard work and dedication of more than 300 employees, ASC is the premier automotive organization in the Mid-Atlantic region exclusively selling and servicing Mercedes-Benzes. On June 3, ASC celebrated its 70th anniversary with a big family barbecue on 5th Road in Arlington. “Since ASC has historically been a family-run business, we wanted to commemorate our 70th anniversary with a party that the whole family can enjoy in our own ’backyard,’ ” Mark Zetlin said.
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