Don K brings Dodge dealership

Whitefish is now the place for people

in the Flathead to go when searching for a new car. That’s the word

from Don Kaltschmidt, who finalized his purchase of Kari Dodge on

Feb. 22.

Kaltschmidt’s Don K Chevrolet acquired

the local Subaru franchise from Glacier Motors exactly one year

earlier. His dealership on the U.S. 93 strip is now the most

diverse car dealership in the valley.

“I wouldn’t have even attempted to do

this without the team I have here,” he said. “I’m blessed with a

great team of employees.”

Fifty remaining new Dodge, Chrysler and

Jeep vehicles left Kari’s lot in Evergreen last week, boosting Don

K’s inventory to 250. About 25 to 50 used vehicles were also moved

to Whitefish.

Kaltschmidt says he’ll break ground in

the next few weeks on a 2,200-square-foot building in front of the

body shop that will serve as the Subaru show room. He said the

silver and gray, metal and stucco building should be completed by

late June.

For the Dodge franchise, Kaltschmidt

says in the short term he could set up a temporary show room in the

parking area south of the Chevrolet show room or put up a permanent

building that could start out as a Dodge show room and later become

quick-service stalls.

Kaltschmidt also has options for his

long-term plans — build a new show room on the three acres he owns

north of the body shop for either the Dodge or the Chevrolet

franchise.

He said a Dodge show room would be

about 4,000 square feet, while a Chevrolet show room would be about

2,000 square feet.

The dealership’s staff will increase

from 50 to about 65, he said. So far, he’s hired four mechanics,

two parts people, two porters and two more sales persons, with two

more sales persons on the way.

All three of his sons will also join

the business. Jason currently heads up the Internet department at

Don K Chevrolet. Erik will return to Whitefish in May to run the

new Dodge dealership. Kevin is finishing up his enlistment in the

Marine Corps and will join the family business after completing

college.

Kaltschmidt has been in the car

business for 25 years. He bought the Jim Dowen Chevrolet dealership

here 21 years ago and moved the business to the U.S. 93 strip 10

years ago.

The Subaru franchise has been

“fantastic,” Kaltschmidt said. Sales were up 180 percent since it

left Kalispell, with 250 new retail cars sold and another 750 new

cars sold to “fleets,” such as rental companies.

“We were the No. 1 new car dealer in

Montana last year by volume,” he said.

Service has also picked up. Kaltschmidt

said the dealership has picked up more than 400 additional

customers per month.

“We’re writing repair orders from all

over the Flathead,” he said. “People aren’t scared to drive to

Whitefish.”

With DePratu Ford Volkswagen just down

the street, the U.S. 93 strip in Whitefish is becoming a

car-selling Mecca. New car dealers remaining in Kalispell include

Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and

Hyundai.

As a member of the city committee

looking at how WB-2 zoning on the U.S. 93 affects downtown

businesses, Kaltschmidt says he expects all that business he’s

attracting to Whitefish will benefit the rest of the local

economy.

“A lot of people coming here for cars

will go downtown,” he said. “We have a great downtown.”