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BOUNTIFUL — A venerable name in the Wasatch Front car business changed when the "last of the little guys" sold its Davis County dealership.
The owners of Menlove Toyota recently sold their interest in the Bountiful store to Mike Dever, chief executive officer of Performance Automotive Network based in Fairfield, Ohio.
The entity has ownership interests in several Cincinnati-area Toyota and Lexus dealerships.
Established in the 1950s, Menlove had a slogan that was developed by founder A.W. "Bill" Johnson. He coined the phrase "The Last of the Little Guys" because at that time car dealership management companies came in and ran dealerships with a very impersonal, systematic approach. But Johnson ran his dealership by himself, putting the customer first by utilizing a more personal touch in serving their needs. That attitude made Menlove a favorite among local car buyers.
Menlove had been family-owned for more than 50 years, but recent economic circumstances may have contributed to its sale, according to Kirk Bengtzen, general manager of Toyota Bountiful.
Bengtzen had served in the same capacity for Menlove from 2000 to 2005 and also had an ownership interest in the dealership. After a hiatus from the car business, he returned to work with Dever when he learned of the chance to once again run the historically successful dealership.
"(Dever) and I connected … and decided that it was a good fit," he said. "Being involved in a store that has been a landmark in Bountiful for (decades was an exciting opportunity)."
He said the new ownership would continue to operate using many of the same core principles to serve customers as the Johnson family has since the '50s.
E-mail: jlee@desnews.com
