When you walk in the door at Fritz in Fishers, the longtime car dealership on 116th Street in downtown Fishers, you’ll likely see Fritz Kreutzinger. The same approachable, friendly face has been greeting his customers for 41 years, making him a mainstay in the community and the dealership.
Fritz started his automotive dealership in 1983 and recalls the very first car he sold – a mustard-colored 1974 Ford Courier pickup truck that he washed and shined, and drove to the front of the property to show off. Less than two hours later, someone stopped to ask if the car was for sale and bought it on the spot. Fritz in Fishers was a small, independent car dealership with only a handful of cars, and he has grown the operation into the size it is today – selling nearly 1,000 cars per year, and most recently shipping a car to the Netherlands for a customer.
Hard-working and self-made, Fritz has sold over 35,000 cars during his career, and attributes his success to honesty and fairness.
“In the car business it comes down to reputation,” he says. “Honesty, fairness and great employees who are the face of the business, who represent Fritz in Fishers – that is the core of our success, along with my personal drive to make my family proud. All you have to do is do it right Why would I want to do it any other way?”
And doing it right – building long-standing relationships with customers and a reputable business that has withstood the test of time in ever-growing Fishers – is what Kreutzinger has done. He takes pride in seeing repeat customers visit the store, some who bought cars from him 25 years ago and are now buying cars for their grandchildren. He finds fun and fulfillment in those moments and is proud of the credibility he has built at his dealership – and who he gets to do it with.
“My dad, Hank, would be proud to know that my son, Kyle, is following in my footsteps now, running the dealership,” he says. “He’s doing a great job. Kyle has two sons, so maybe my father’s love of cars and all things mechanical that he passed on to me will become a fourth-generation business.”
Owning a successful business for more than 40 years, and in the same location, isn’t something many Fishers businesses can boast – especially businesses based downtown and around 116th Street. Once a sleepy area, the city is booming with new developments, from hotels to entertainment, making the Fritz in Fishers building a bit of an anomaly between the burgeoning new construction sites.
“We used to be the only dealership up here 30 years ago,” Kreutzinger says. “Keeping our business in downtown Fishers adds to our credibility that we’ve sustained all these years. The growth helps attract more activity to downtown and for us, but our success right now comes from adapting to the economy and the right business model.”
As a family-owned used car dealership in Fishers, the Fritz in Fishers mission is to connect individuals with the highest-quality used vehicles and financing plans. Kreutzinger and his team would love to help you find your next used car, help you fix your current vehicle, or help you with any other automotive needs. Their used car inventory ranges across makes and models, with favorite brands like Chevrolet, Dodge, Honda, Ford and more. Customers will also find pre-owned vehicles from luxury car brands including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and more.
You can find the dealership at 8599 East 116th Street in downtown Fishers, and can reach the dealership at 317-842-2228.
