T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — Karl Auto Group Owner Carl Moyer, holding scissors, cuts the ribbon on the company’s multimillion dollar expansion at 1000 N. 3rd Ave. in Marshalltown on Saturday morning. Karl held an all-day grand opening event to celebrate the completion of the project.

A grand opening and ribbon cutting held Saturday at Karl Auto Group (KAG) – located at 1000 N. Third Ave. in Marshalltown – was frosting on the cake for the company and locals alike after several years of extensive construction, remodeling and site preparation.

KAG owner Carl Moyer, employees, Marshalltown mayor Joel Greer, area media and the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors turned out in force to celebrate a multimillion-dollar investment.

“This is exciting,” Moyer said. “Being a little bit of the dreamer like I am, we could not pass up the opportunity to have a facility in Marshalltown. Here, we have a community of nearly 30,000 population and close to 100,000 within a 50-mile trade area. Our Marshalltown business is designed to be a customer’s destination for anything auto-related. If one comes here — whatever the issue is — we can manage it professionally. For example, our body-shop is top-shelf. This is a really good deal for us.”

Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer spoke highly of Karl Auto Group and specifically Owner Carl Moyer during his remarks at the ribbon cutting on Saturday morning.

Greer was effusive in his praise of Moyer.

“After the tornado — now five and one-half years ago — one of the first telephone calls I received was from Carl Moyer,” Greer said. “He said: ‘I have a check for $25,000. I have sold a lot of cars to people from Marshalltown … tell me to whom I write the check.’

Greer directed him to one of the three not-for-profits helping with recovery efforts. Later, he received another call from Moyer.

“He said, ‘we want to have a facility in Marshalltown, tell me where we should put it,'” Greer said, paraphrasing the exchange.

Greer encouraged Moyer to invest in the north side of the community.

“We have a lot of development on the south side. He (Moyer) made the commitment that required millions of dollars to invest in this area – even though they could have gone to the south side,” the mayor said. “Those are the two reasons I really like this guy and I had to tell the story. Welcome to Marshalltown and thank you for what you did.”

The complex features an extensive new Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Jeep and Ram model inventory, according to its website. Also on site is a large used vehicle inventory, body shop, parts department, vehicle service area, showrooms, a “touchless” car wash, a “speedy” oil change area and offices.

KAG advertises itself as the “No. 1 Chevrolet Certified Pre-Owned dealer in the nation,” according to company promotional material.

For decades, the site was home to Ken Wise Buick, GMC and Honda. It previously had been in the 200 block of E. State Street. Wise’s sons John and Tom Wise then sold the business to a former Wise employee, Dave Wright of Cedar Rapids, and KAG purchased that business in July of 2021.

Now, two years and eight months later, the area has changed dramatically. More property was purchased. More inventory was added. Commercial building square-footage expanded from 15,000 to 70,000 square feet and employment increased from 28 to 54, according to company marketing director Tony Mills. New signage was installed earlier this year.

Mills, who emceed Saturday’s event, told the Times-Republican the city of Marshalltown and local economic development officials had been supportive and helpful throughout the project.

“It is a good day to buy a vehicle,” said Mills.

KAG has additional locations in Ankeny, Glidden, Story City, Stuart and Webster City.

Marshalltown business hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, contact 641-752-7101, or visit www.karlcdjr.com.