Don K brings Dodge dealership
Whitefish is now the place for people
in the Flathead to go when searching for a new car. That’s the word
from Don Kaltschmidt, who finalized his purchase of Kari Dodge on
Feb. 22.
Kaltschmidt’s Don K Chevrolet acquired
the local Subaru franchise from Glacier Motors exactly one year
earlier. His dealership on the U.S. 93 strip is now the most
diverse car dealership in the valley.
“I wouldn’t have even attempted to do
this without the team I have here,” he said. “I’m blessed with a
great team of employees.”
Fifty remaining new Dodge, Chrysler and
Jeep vehicles left Kari’s lot in Evergreen last week, boosting Don
K’s inventory to 250. About 25 to 50 used vehicles were also moved
to Whitefish.
Kaltschmidt says he’ll break ground in
the next few weeks on a 2,200-square-foot building in front of the
body shop that will serve as the Subaru show room. He said the
silver and gray, metal and stucco building should be completed by
late June.
For the Dodge franchise, Kaltschmidt
says in the short term he could set up a temporary show room in the
parking area south of the Chevrolet show room or put up a permanent
building that could start out as a Dodge show room and later become
quick-service stalls.
Kaltschmidt also has options for his
long-term plans — build a new show room on the three acres he owns
north of the body shop for either the Dodge or the Chevrolet
franchise.
He said a Dodge show room would be
about 4,000 square feet, while a Chevrolet show room would be about
2,000 square feet.
The dealership’s staff will increase
from 50 to about 65, he said. So far, he’s hired four mechanics,
two parts people, two porters and two more sales persons, with two
more sales persons on the way.
All three of his sons will also join
the business. Jason currently heads up the Internet department at
Don K Chevrolet. Erik will return to Whitefish in May to run the
new Dodge dealership. Kevin is finishing up his enlistment in the
Marine Corps and will join the family business after completing
college.
Kaltschmidt has been in the car
business for 25 years. He bought the Jim Dowen Chevrolet dealership
here 21 years ago and moved the business to the U.S. 93 strip 10
years ago.
The Subaru franchise has been
“fantastic,” Kaltschmidt said. Sales were up 180 percent since it
left Kalispell, with 250 new retail cars sold and another 750 new
cars sold to “fleets,” such as rental companies.
“We were the No. 1 new car dealer in
Montana last year by volume,” he said.
Service has also picked up. Kaltschmidt
said the dealership has picked up more than 400 additional
customers per month.
“We’re writing repair orders from all
over the Flathead,” he said. “People aren’t scared to drive to
Whitefish.”
With DePratu Ford Volkswagen just down
the street, the U.S. 93 strip in Whitefish is becoming a
car-selling Mecca. New car dealers remaining in Kalispell include
Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and
Hyundai.
As a member of the city committee
looking at how WB-2 zoning on the U.S. 93 affects downtown
businesses, Kaltschmidt says he expects all that business he’s
attracting to Whitefish will benefit the rest of the local
economy.
“A lot of people coming here for cars
will go downtown,” he said. “We have a great downtown.”