Performance Brokerage Advises on Recent RV Acquisitions – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
IRVINE, Calif. – Performance Brokerage Services, North America’s highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the recent sales of two RV dealerships to General RV Center: Stoltzfus Trailer Sales, Inc. doing business as Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine of West Chester, Pa., and Independence RV Center in Winter Garden, Fla.
RVBusiness first reported General RV’s acquisition of Stoltzfus RV on Nov. 2, 2023. and the Independence RV acquisition on Dec. 14.
Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine was founded in 1967 by Earl Stoltzfus. In 1978, he relocated the dealership to its current location in West Chester, outside of Philadelphia. This state-of-the-art dealership operates on nearly 17 acres, with facilities totaling approximately 50,000 square feet, and features 23 service bays and 900 solar panels for energy efficiency.
With a commitment to customer satisfaction and a sincere dedication to the team responsible for the dealership’s success, in 2007, Stoltzfus sold the company to an ESOP (Employee Ownership Stock Plan). Stoltzfus served as president for 46 years and held the position of chairman of the board. A pioneer in the industry, Stoltzfus received the James B. Summers Award in 2015 for his consistent and outstanding contribution to the RV Dealer Association and its dealer body. Stoltzfus’s stepson, Bob Cox, served as president until the time of the sale.
Cox shared, “It was a pleasure working with Jesse Stopnitzky and his family in finding a great home for our company. Jesse’s experience and reputation in our industry made Performance Brokerage Services the perfect organization to identify the best suited buyer who will value and care for our employees. I am thankful for their services. I am also very excited for the future growth of our company and honored we are now part of the General Family.”
Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine will be renamed General RV Center of West Chester and will remain at its current location at 1335 Wilmington Pike in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Independence RV was founded in 1985 by Ronnie Jordan at a one-acre leased facility in Orlando, Florida. Four years later, Ronnie relocated the dealership to the city of Winter Garden where it currently operates. Independence RV is Central Florida’s only authorized Newmar dealer and factory service center and has become one of the top Newmar dealerships in the nation.
For 16 years, Independence RV has been the recipient of the coveted Mahlon Miller Service Excellence Award for achieving above 95% customer approval in post-service customer surveys, and Newmar’s Diamond Award since its inception in 2019.
Ronnie Jordan, President of Independence RV shared, “Seeking advice when I decided to sell the store, I called a friend who had sold his. This was a great decision as he recommended Jesse Stopnitzky and Performance Brokerage Services. Jesse was the glue that held the transaction together from beginning to end. We laid out the guidelines of the type of buyer we would like to take over our 38-year-old highly awarded store and that is exactly who he brought to the table. He brought me the right buyer, got the price I wanted, and was there with his wealth of knowledge and experience to guide me through the entire process! I couldn’t ask for more and I would highly recommend Jesse Stopnitzky and Performance Brokerage Services.”
Independence RV will remain at its current location at 12705 West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden, Florida.
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. Jesse Stopnitzky, co-owner and director of the RV Division for Performance Brokerage Services, and Jon Couwenberg, partner, were the exclusive advisors for this transaction.
Stopnitzky commented, “The Stoltzfus name is highly regarded and well-respected in the RV industry, and Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine is among the top dealerships nationwide. It was an honor to have been entrusted with managing the sale of such an iconic and historic dealership. We are proud to have identified the perfect buyer in General RV that will make for a strong cultural fit. Working with first-class organizations, the parties negotiated in good faith and adhered to strict confidentiality until the closing. This transaction was a true win-win for all parties involved.”
General RV Center out of Wixom, Mich., is a premier, family-owned dealership group founded in 1962 by Abe Baidas. The group started from humble beginnings with a Mobil gas station, which later transformed into a small sales and manufacturing facility. It has since become one of the largest RV dealership groups in the country, employing over 2,000 team members across locations in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Utah, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, with a 150,000 square foot inspection facility in Indiana. The family legacy continues with Abe’s son, Robert Baidas acting as chairman and Abe’s grandson, Loren Baidas, as CEO.
General RV supports its local community by donating tents to scout groups, working with Make-A-Wish families, and volunteering to clean up local playgrounds and parks. In addition, the Richard Baidas Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2006 to provide college scholarships to children and grandchildren of General RV employees. Since the program’s inception, more than $1,000,000 of college scholarship funds have been awarded.
Loren Baidas stated, “We have a great relationship with Jesse Stopnitzky at Performance Brokerage Services. We’ve completed two deals with him, and he’s managed both transactions at a high level. From matching the right buyer and seller to navigating the unique challenges of each deal, he’s a true professional and we enjoy working with him. Most importantly, he’s honest and has integrity. He’s the kind of person we want to work with.”
About Performance Brokerage Services
Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North America’s highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships.
With over 30 years of experience, 900 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the company’s reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity.
The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes.
Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 9 regional offices in Utah, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Alberta and Ontario, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation.
As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers.
For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com.
