A major recreational vehicle dealer in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is going on permanent holiday — but the business is going nowhere but up.
The Waterloo Cedar Falls-Courier reported that Jim Fogdall concluded 50 years in the RV business last week by closing the sale of his family business, Ace Fogdall RV, which was named for his father. The company is going to Camping World of Lincolnshire, Ill., which is launching a $1 million renovation of the Cedar Falls location and hiring staff.
Virtually all the employees will be retained, according to Fogdall. He is retiring because of his wife Judy’s health, however, and their daughter and general manager, Sara Fogdall Miller, is stepping away from the business. She intends to devote more time to her family, including two sons ages 7 and 11.
“I’m thankful for all the opportunities we’ve had,” said Fogdall, whose family has been in the automobile and RV business for 80 years.
Ace Fogdall started in RVs in 1963 and Jim worked alongside his father for 20 years.
“When the time came to retire and sell the business, I was fortunate to find a buyer that … would employ all my present staff,” Fogdall said. “One of my biggest objectives was to sell the business with a good feeling.”
Don King, a Fogdall employee for 28 years, is now the store general manager.
“I personally have a lot of admiration for the Fogdall family,” King said.
Camping World signs are on the business. A liquidation sale of Fogdall inventory is underway — parts and RVs — to make room for the new owner. The parts, sales and service departments are open.
The reconfigured sales area boasts 9,000 square feet of floor space, according to King.
“We retained 95% of the employees, plus we have already hired nine new employees,” he added.
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