Don K adds four new vehicle lines
Don K Chevrolet/Subaru of Whitefish finalized its purchase of Kari Dodge on Tuesday, making it the most diverse car dealership in the Flathead Valley.
Don Kaltschmidt, owner of Don K, said the addition of the Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram lines will boost both the dealership’s inventory and work force. Fifty new vehicles remaining at Kari Dodge in Evergreen were moved to Don K’s lots on Tuesday afternoon, boosting the dealership’s inventory to 350 vehicles. About 25 to 50 used vehicles will be added to the Whitefish dealership in the coming days.
Kari Dodge’s inventory had been whittled down considerably after it was announced in mid-January the dealership was closing after 13 years. Kari Hyundai will remain in Evergreen.
Kaltschmidt said his staff will grow from 50 to about 65 employees to accommodate the growth.
“We’ve hired at least four mechanics, two parts people, two porters, two more sales people, plus two more sales people coming,” he said.
It was just a year ago that Don K acquired the Subaru franchise from Glacier Motors in Evergreen. Kaltschmidt said he’ll break ground this spring on a new Subaru showroom on the north end of his five-acre lot along U.S. 93 South.
Don K’s expanded dealership, along with the DePratu Ford & Volkswagen dealership just down the road, will give Whitefish more vehicle selection than Kalispell, Kaltschmidt said. And all of the “big three” — Chevy, Ford and Dodge — now will be available in Whitefish.
New car dealers remaining in Kalispell are Kalispell Hyundai, Eisinger Honda, Eisinger Motors (featuring Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick), Kalispell Toyota and Green Nissan.
Kaltschmidt said a temporary showroom for the Dodge vehicles will be set up within a couple of months. He plans to build a new separate Dodge showroom within three years.
He credits a top-notch work force for the smooth assimilation.
“I have such a good team; I believe we can make it all work,” he said.
All three of Kaltschmidt’s sons eventually will be involved with the business. Jason currently heads the dealership’s Internet department; Erik will return to Whitefish in May to run the Dodge dealership, and Kevin, who is wrapping up military service with the Marine Corps, likely will join the family business after he’s done with college, Kaltschmidt said.
Kaltschmidt has been in the car business for 25 years in Whitefish. He began with Jim Dowen Chevrolet and then bought out Dowen and his partner 21 years ago. Ten years ago he relocated the Don K dealership to U.S. 93 South.
The dealership survived the recession and should have a banner year, he said.
“The tail end of 2008 and most of ’09 were probably the most difficult I’ve had,” he said. “But 2010 was the best year we’ve ever had, when we added Subaru. I want to thank the Flathead Valley for supporting us.”
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.