Nation's Largest RV Retailer, FreedomRoads, Announces The Acquisition of Wheeler's Las Vegas RV
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--April 1, 2005--| Company Expects to Double Facility Size, Sees Market Potential of $200 Million |
Chicago area-based FreedomRoads, LLC, the nation's largest recreational vehicle retailer with revenue that exceed $1 billion, today announced the acquisition of Wheeler's Las Vegas RV. The acquisition brings the number of FreedomRoads dealerships to 52 and further strengthens the growing company's market presence and strength in the western United States.
Founded in 1982 by Andy and Marlene Wheeler, Wheeler's Las Vegas RV is Nevada's largest RV dealership. It occupies 30 acres and boasts state-of-the-art service facilities and a full service body shop. Consistent with FreedomRoad's strategy, Wheeler's Las Vegas RV will retain the name that RV consumers have come to know and respect.
FreedomRoads Co-Founder and Mountain Region President Craig Jensen asserted, "We are very pleased to have another market leader join the FreedomRoads network, we have always had a high regard for Wheeler's. Andy and Marlene Wheeler and their team have built a great platform for further expansion. I was particularly excited and enticed by the strong management I saw there. It became clear to me that we were aligned in our thinking, and that together we could drive the dealership to the next level," he said.
Jensen continued, "Our planned enhancement of Wheeler's will give us additional capacity to take care of a wide range of customer needs. This is a key market for us both in terms of growth potential, but it's also located in a key geographic area allowing us to provide service to our customers nationwide who are staying in or passing through that area."
Wheeler's Las Vegas RV General Manager Ben Beck echoed Jensen's sentiments saying, "Both myself and my team here are very excited about the affiliation with FreedomRoads and the ten acre planned expansion of the facility. This will bring us closer to our goal of total market dominance, and it will enhance our already exceptional service and selection for both current and future customers."
FreedomRoads Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis commented, "Andy and Marlene Wheeler have indeed built a great platform and base for us to be able to take this market to the next level. This is potentially a $200 million market and we are very excited at our prospects there."
Lemonis said that he expected to double the size of the facility over the next twelve months with the expansion focused on service, parts and body repair. Additionally, the company has plans to build a 10,000 square foot plus free-standing Camping World facility on premises. Not only does this create a one stop shop for RV consumers, it offers them the convenience of a second Camping World (the first is located in Henderson) in the growing Las Vegas market.
About FreedomRoads
FreedomRoads is a dynamic national network of well-established local and regional RV dealerships who have united to benefit customers, employees, suppliers and the RV industry. FreedomRoads operates as a multi-store retail chain engaged in the retail sale, finance and service of recreational vehicles.
FreedomRoads is America's largest RV retailer. It currently employs over 2000 associates and owns and operates 52 locations in 19 states including; Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
FreedomRoads stocks over $300 million of new and used recreational vehicle inventory and retails over 36,000 units annually. For additional information, please visit http://www.FreedomRoads.com, where more than 6,000 recreational vehicles are available for sale.
