Knudtsen Chevrolet, under the leadership of Eve Knudtsen, has expanded its family-owned business empire by acquiring Foothills Lincoln Mazda in Spokane, WA, now rebranded as Knudtsen Foothills Mazda and Knudtsen Foothills Lincoln.
The acquisition was facilitated by Tim Wild of the Tim Lamb Group, and finalized Feb. 15.
Foothills Lincoln Mazda, established in 1981 by Ray Kish and later co-owned with Rick Rielly, has been a prominent figure in the Spokane community. Over the years, the dealership has not only served its customers but also engaged with the community through various initiatives. The decision to sell to Knudtsen was driven by a shared philosophy and value system focusing on family and community, aspects that have been fundamental to both dealerships' operations.
“For the last 10 years we have had multiple offers from dealers looking to purchase our stores and none of them felt right,” said Kish. “When I met Tim Wild, he understood our philosophy and wanted to help us find a buyer who would uphold everything that Rick and I have worked so hard to build over the last 43 years. It was Tim’s persistence and precision that helped make this deal happen, and I think that any other prospective buyer or seller would be lucky to have him representing their deal.”
Knudtsen is excited to integrate the Foothills stores into her fold.
“Tim was instrumental in bringing this deal to closure. Whether it was helping us find real estate solutions, or just keeping us on track, his personal involvement brought us to a successful and satisfying close,” Knudtsen said.
Knudtsen Chevrolet in Post Falls, ID, has been serving the residents of Kootenai County and beyond for more than 85 years. Started by Eve’s father Clifford in 1939, this family-owned dealership has experienced significant growth and evolution over the years. With the addition of the Foothills stores, located just 26 miles from Post Falls, Eve and her daughter, Lauren Benedict, intend to uphold the tradition of excellence and care that her family has cultivated for decades, while embracing the family and community values Rielly and Kish have worked tirelessly to establish.
