Certified Automotive Parts Association

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 Worth ington. 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 Rap ids 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 hum ming. 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

W ahlberg 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 deep ens 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 selec tion 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 were gone—they still can’t find them. A wooden building behind the shop exploded and 2-by-4s had been driven through the met al 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 in ternet, 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 suc cessful business and have an awesome cadre of employees. We wish them all good luck and good everything while they navigate through this. made it a Texas-sized sequel with the purchase of four John Eagle Deal erships 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 Fran cisco, which followed the addition of DCH Subaru of Thousand Oaks, CA, in midJuly. Earlier in the month, Lithia announced it acquired Smolich Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Nissan dealerships in Bend, OR.

“W e’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.

“W e’re excited to welcome 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 rev enues. Lithia financed the purchase through free cash flows and existing

“This latest acquisition just strengthens our roots and deepens our bond with the market.” — Mark Wahlberg

on-balance sheet capacity.

“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

W e thank Auto Remarketing for reprint permission.

Iowa Auto Body Shop Hit Hard by Dorecho Storm

and however consumers desire.” www.walnrepair.com

We thank Janet Chaney for submitting this information.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST COMES THE SEAL

 Fit  Function  Appearance  Performance  Materials

TM

12345678

TM

12345678

Only parts that pass our extensive tests earn CAPA Certification and carry the distinctive yellow and blue CAPA Quality Seal.

TM