Wahlberg, Lithia Continue Blockbuster Summer Acquisitions in Ohio by Joe Overby, Auto Remarketing
Seems like a summer of sequels for dealership acquisitions. While blockbusters aren’t driving folks to theaters these days, movie star Mark Wahlberg continues to add to the coffers of a different line in his business portfolio.
Credit: PRNewsfoto/Mark Wahlberg Buick GMC
Less than a month after it was announced the actor/producer and his business partner, Jay Feldman, had purchased two dealerships in Columbus, OH, the pair purchased another store in town: Jack Maxton Chevrolet. The store is being renamed Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet of Worthington.
Wahlberg and Feldman now have four stores in Columbus. Others include Mark Wahlberg Buick GMC and Mark Wahlberg Airstream & RV (the two purchases from last month) and Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet, their first store in 2018. “The people of Columbus have been good to us,” Wahlberg said in a news release. “This latest acquisition just strengthens our roots and deepens our bond with the market.” Feldman added, “Having four dealerships in Columbus gives us the opportunity to provide consumers with a consistent sales and service experience. “The Mark Wahlberg imprint on four locations enables us to leverage the Wahlberg advantage of providing brand choices, offering huge selection at the lowest prices and delivering great customer service,” he said. Jeff Mauk, who previously owned the dealership, said: “The Maxton name has been on that Chevy dealership for 90 years. I know the current and future customers are in good hands with Mark and Jay at the helm.” Further West, Lithia Motors
Iowa Auto Body Shop Hit Hard by Dorecho Storm by Janet Chaney
Waln Collision Repair, a family-owned collision business in the idyllic community of Fairfax, IA, was slammed by a dorecho that barreled through the Midwest on Aug. 9. The straight-line wind storm hit Fairfax and nearby Cedar Rapids around 12:30 p.m. The shop is a well-known fixture in the community, and always staying busy. Due to two recent hail storms, the shop was at capacity. The place was humming. Every stall was full, body and refinish techs were busy, Smart Express was completing scans and calibrations and PDR was performing smaller paintless dent repairs. Then the noise started. The wind started to become violent. Everyone got into one paint booth and huddled together, as the dorecho blew 100 mph winds for 30 minutes. When they felt safe to come out of the building, they found a surreal landscape. The paint stacks
were gone—they still can’t find them. A wooden building behind the shop exploded and 2-by-4s had been driven through the metal walls like missiles. One wall was partially caved in. Amazingly, the fury of this storm did not destroy the entire shop. “Everything is OK, no one was hurt,” owner Steve Waln told Janet Chaney of CaveCreek Business Development. “It was so loud, like a freight train running through the shop. It could have been so much worse.” There is no power, no internet, and sporadic cell phone service. The interview stopped when Wain’s cell phone went quiet. Owners Steve and Teresa Waln have built a strong and successful business and have an awesome cadre of employees. We wish them all good luck and good everything while they navigate through this. www.walnrepair.com We thank Janet Chaney for submitting this information.
these high-performing teams to the Lithia family. Their reputation in their communities and extraordinary volume reflect a commitment to an exceptional customer experience,” DeBoer said. The four stores are expected to add $500 million in annualized revenues. Lithia financed the purchase through free cash flows and existing on-balance sheet capacity.
made it a Texas-sized sequel with the purchase of four John Eagle Dealerships stores in Dallas and Austin: John Eagle Honda of Dallas, Honda Cars of Rockwall, Howdy Honda of Austin and John Eagle Sports City Toyota. Just last week, Lithia announced it had purchased BMW of San Francisco, which followed the addition of DCH Subaru of Thousand Oaks,
“This latest acquisition just strengthens our roots and deepens our bond with the market.” — Mark Wahlberg “The acceleration of our plan to increase the reach and density of our network to more conveniently serve our customers is well underway,” DeBoer said. “Together, with our Driveway ecommerce digital home channel, we are providing personal transportation solutions wherever, whenever and however consumers desire.”
CA, in midJuly. Earlier in the month, Lithia announced it acquired Smolich Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Nissan dealerships in Bend, OR. “We’re delighted to announce our network expansion in two of the largest markets in our logistically key South-Central region,” Lithia President and CEO Bryan DeBoer said of the Texas additions in a news release Aug. 4. “We’re excited to welcome
We thank Auto Remarketing for reprint permission.
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