Performance Brokerage Services announced the sale of Stoltzfus Trailer Sales, doing business as Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine of West Chester, Pennsylvania, to General RV Center.
Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine was founded in 1967 by Earl Stoltzfus. In 1978, Stoltzfus relocated the dealership to its current location in West Chester, outside of Philadelphia. The dealership operates on nearly 17 acres, with facilities totaling approximately 50,000 square feet, and features 23 service bays and 900 solar panels for energy efficiency.
In 2007, Stoltzfus sold the company to an ESOP (Employee Ownership Stock Plan). He served as president for 46 years and held the position of chairman of the board. A pioneer in the industry, Stoltzfus received the James B. Summers Award in 2015 for his consistent and outstanding contribution to the RV Dealer Association (RVDA) and its dealer body. His stepson, Bob Cox, served as president until the time of the sale.
Cox shared, “It was a pleasure working with Jesse Stopnitzky and his family in finding a great home for our company. Jesse’s experience and reputation in our industry made Performance Brokerage Services the perfect organization to identify the best suited buyer who will value and care for our employees. I am thankful for their services. I am also very excited for the future growth of our company and honored we are now part of the General family.”
Over the last five years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. Jesse Stopnitzky, co-owner and director of the RV Division for Performance Brokerage Services and Jon Couwenberg, partner, were the exclusive advisors for this transaction.
Stopnitzky said, “The Stoltzfus name is highly regarded and well-respected in the RV industry, and Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine is among the top dealerships nationwide. It was an honor to have been entrusted with managing the sale of such an iconic and historic dealership. We are proud to have identified the perfect buyer in General RV that will make for a strong cultural fit. Working with first-class organizations, the parties negotiated in good faith and adhered to strict confidentiality until the closing. This transaction was a true win-win for all parties involved.”
General RV Center out of Wixom, Michigan, is a family-owned dealership group founded in 1962 by Abe Baidas. The group started from humble beginnings with a Mobil gas station, which later transformed into a small sales and manufacturing facility. It has since become one of the largest RV dealership groups in the country, employing over 2,000 team members across locations in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Utah, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Virginia, with a 150,000-square-foot inspection facility in Indiana. The family legacy continues with Baidas’s son, Robert Baidas, acting as chairman and grandson Loren Baidas as CEO.
Loren Baidas said, “We have a great relationship with Jesse Stopnitzky at Performance Brokerage Services. We’ve completed two deals with him, and he’s managed both transactions at a high level. From matching the right buyer and seller to navigating the unique challenges of each deal, he’s a true professional and we enjoy working with him. Most importantly, he’s honest and has integrity. He’s the kind of person we want to work with.”
Stoltzfus RV’s and Marine will be renamed General RV Center of West Chester and will remain at its current location at 1335 Wilmington Pike in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
