SIOUX CITY, IA -
Charlie Zook Motors is being sold to the Woodhouse Auto Family, a company with dealerships throughout eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.
Siouxland News talked with the companies President Tuesday, and he says it's just time to sell.
You see a lot of signs at any car dealership, pointing out years and prices, some may even show pride in local ownership.
But soon the signs at Charlie Zook Motors in Sioux City will change.
"It's different, it will be an adjustment," said Charlie Zook Motors President Bruce Zook. "We've done a lot of growing and changing over the years ourselves."
Founder Charlie Zook bought the dealership in 1967 and over the years he expanded it from just Dodge to Mitsubishi, Jeep and more.
Bruce, Charlie's son, has been helping out ever since.
"Even as a kid I mowed the lawn, picked up trash, sealed cracks, pulled weeds," said Zook. "I did all the crappy jobs before I ever started full-time employment."
After all of those changes the folks at Zook's haven't forgotten what it means to be a family business.
"We're one of those mom and pop stores who, you know, value our employees," said Zook.
That's why the deal with Woodhouse went through, all 65 employees will get to keep their jobs.
"When opportunity knocks, then you at least have to listen," said Zook. "And the more we listened and thought about it, the more we thought it made sense."
Just another change in Charlie Zook's half century history, a sign of things to come.
Woodhouse will still honor a lot of the service deals that are already in place with some customers.
The Woodhouse Auto Family will take over January 14th.
