Longtime car dealerships in Anamosa, Monticello will be sold to new owner

The owners of two longtime Jones County new car dealerships are selling their businesses to a Minnesota dealer.

Wayne Hall Jr., and his sister, Jill Brewer — owners of Wayne Hall Chrysler Jeep Dodge, in Anamosa — and Roger Stephen, owner of Stephen Motors of Monticello, say they expect the sales to be completed early next year.

Citing ongoing legal work to finalize the deals, Hall Jr. and Brewer declined to name the buyer or where it is located in Minnesota.

Hall Jr., 68, and Brewer, 66, said the new owner is in his 30s, and operates a Chrysler dealership of similar size in a small Minnesota community.

Brewer said the Wayne Hall service department she managed closed last August, while the new and used car sales business remains open. Hall Jr. said the new owner is assisting him in getting new vehicles to sell.

The plan is for the new owner to buy half the Hall property — including the main building and car lot. Hall Jr. and Brewer will retain a small building and lot across the street with and eye toward selling it later, Hall Jr. said.

Wayne Hall Sr. started the Anamosa Chrysler dealership in 1956, and remained active until his death last February. Hall Jr. has worked in the business for more than 50 years, musing it's the only job he's ever had. Brewer joined in 1979. Both said they decided to sell the business after Hall Sr.'s death and due to them both having health issues and being of retirement age.

Instead of just closing and selling the property for another use, they hoped to find someone to take over the dealership.

“I did not want this town not to have a Chrysler dealer,” Hall Jr. said. He added that he did not want a "mega-dealer" to take over. He said the search wasn’t going well, until he was contacted by the Minnesota dealer.

"He found me. Roger Stephen of Monticello, a longtime GM dealer, told him about us," Hall Jr. said. "This man is going to be super for this community. My Dad would be really impressed by this person," Hall Jr. said of prospective buyer.

"Dad would be so pleased," added Brewer.

Brewer and Hall Jr. expressed gratitude to their customers and friends. Actually, they said, "The customers are our friends'' and not just numbers.

Hall Jr. and Brewer said they will help the new owner get established. Hall Jr. is unsure whether the business will get a new name, or retain the familiar Wayne Hall name.

Stephen, 85, said he wants to sell to the same Minnesota buyer.

“The deal is not done yet," Stephen said Thursday. But he thinks it will be wrapped up within three months.

Stephen said he wants to retire, noting he started the business when he was 28 and converted a bowling alley into the car dealership. He now sells new GMC trucks and Chevrolets.

Stephen said his agreement states that the dealership name will remain the same. Also, he is selling the dealership, but renting the land to the new owner with an option to buy it. All seven of his employees would be retained, he added.

Stephen also said he was very impressed by the man buying his business.