Walser Automotive Group Expands Minneapolis Presence With Three-Dealership Acquisition
Walser Automotive Group has expanded its presence in the Minneapolis market through the acquisition of three established dealerships from Metropolitan Corp., in a transaction advised exclusively by Haig Partners LLC. The deal includes Metropolitan Ford, Freeway Ford and Suburban Chevrolet, all located in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area.
Haig Partners, a buy-sell advisory firm serving automotive retailers, represented Metropolitan in the transaction. The acquisition brings together two long-established automotive organizations and represents a significant expansion for Walser as it continues to build its dealership portfolio and strengthen its position in the Twin Cities market.
For Metropolitan, the transaction provides the owners with substantial liquidity that can be invested in other ventures while allowing the family to retain two dealerships for continued operation by the current ownership group and the next generation.
The dealerships being retained are Rosedale Chevrolet and Superior Ford. These locations will remain under the ownership and operation of the current owners and their children, providing a path for continued family involvement in automotive retail even as most of the group’s operations transition to Walser.
Century-Long Automotive Retailing History
The transaction marks an important transition for a dealership organization with a history stretching back more than a century. The Grossman Family Dealership Group began operations more than 100 years ago and, throughout its history, served tens of thousands of customers across the region.
The organization also developed a major wholesale parts operation serving the General Motors market. That business became one of the largest wholesale parts operations in the United States, adding another important dimension to the family’s long involvement in the automotive industry.
The sale of Metropolitan Ford, Freeway Ford and Suburban Chevrolet allows the owners to unlock significant value accumulated through decades of operating automotive businesses. At the same time, retaining Rosedale Chevrolet and Superior Ford enables the family to preserve a direct connection to dealership operations and create opportunities for the next generation.
This combination of selling a majority of the business while retaining selected dealerships reflects one of the increasingly common approaches being used by multigenerational dealership families. Owners can generate liquidity, diversify their investments and prepare for succession while maintaining ownership of selected operations.
Walser Strengthens Twin Cities Footprint
For Walser Automotive Group, the transaction represents a major expansion of its existing dealership network and a long-term investment in the Minneapolis and Twin Cities automotive market.
Founded more than 70 years ago, Walser has developed into one of the larger dealership groups in the United States. The company was ranked No. 32 on Automotive News’ 2025 list of the Top 150 Dealership Groups.
Before the transaction, Walser operated a broad portfolio of dealerships across Minnesota and Kansas. The group has 35 dealerships representing a wide range of automotive brands, including Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick-GMC, Chevrolet, Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram, Honda, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru and Toyota.
The addition of Metropolitan Ford, Freeway Ford and Suburban Chevrolet further expands Walser’s operations in Minnesota and increases its presence in the domestic-brand dealership segment.
According to Walser, the acquisition is the most significant transaction in the company’s history. The deal will also add nearly 300 employees to Walser’s organization.
The increase in employee count underscores the scale of the transaction. Beyond adding dealership locations, Walser is gaining experienced automotive retail personnel, established customer relationships and operations in a market that the company already understands well.
Strategic Investment in the Twin Cities
Walser CEO Andrew Walser said the transaction represents an unusual combination of established dealerships, experienced teams and a market familiar to the company.
“It is rare to find this kind of alignment with established dealerships, great teams, and a market we know well,” Walser said. “Bringing them in is a meaningful investment in the Twin Cities and in Walser’s long-term future.”
The comments highlight the strategic importance of the acquisition beyond simply increasing the number of stores in Walser’s portfolio.
The Twin Cities market provides an established automotive retail environment with a substantial customer base and a wide range of vehicle brands. By adding three dealerships in the area, Walser can increase its operational scale while continuing to build on its existing presence in Minnesota.
The acquisition also gives the organization an opportunity to integrate new employees and dealership operations into its broader retail platform. As automotive dealerships increasingly become larger and more diversified businesses, scale can play an important role in areas such as technology, customer experience, fixed operations, inventory management, marketing and administrative functions.
Haig Partners Advises Metropolitan
Haig Partners played a central role in guiding Metropolitan through the transaction. The firm’s role was to serve as Metropolitan’s exclusive advisor during the sale process.
Alan Haig, president of Haig Partners, said the firm’s approach is centered on long-term relationships with dealership owners and understanding their individual objectives rather than simply focusing on completing a transaction.
According to Haig, Metropolitan operated several highly profitable domestic dealerships in the Midwest. When the ownership group approached Haig Partners, its goals included selling most of the dealerships while retaining two locations for the next generation.
Haig said the advisory team focused on understanding those objectives and structuring the transaction around the family’s plans.
“Our work is built on relationships, and the most meaningful ones are with clients who trust us to help them make decisions that shape their families, their teams and their legacies,” Haig said.
He added that the transaction demonstrates how dealership owners can pursue liquidity and succession objectives at the same time.
Haig also recognized the contributions of Derek Garber and Emily Bourne, who worked alongside him on the engagement. He said their work reflected the firm’s focus on client service and transaction expertise.
Haig Partners also congratulated the Walser family on the acquisition, describing the buyer as a strong counterparty and noting the group’s plans for continued growth as the next generation of Walser family members gains experience in the business.
Strong Dealership Buy-Sell Market
The transaction comes as dealership mergers and acquisitions continue to attract interest from both buyers and sellers.
Haig said the buy-sell market remains active across many automotive brands, supported by dealership profitability and continued demand from dealer groups seeking opportunities to expand.
According to Haig, average dealership profits remain strong, while numerous dealership groups are looking to increase their scale. Those conditions can create attractive circumstances for owners considering a sale.
A strong dealership valuation environment can also encourage owners to explore succession and estate-planning strategies. Some dealership families may be approaching retirement, while others may want to distribute capital among family members who are not interested in pursuing careers in automotive retail.
The combination of buyer demand and available sellers has contributed to a market in which dealership owners have opportunities to evaluate different strategic paths.
For some owners, the objective may be a complete exit from automotive retail. For others, a partial sale can provide liquidity while preserving ownership of selected dealerships for family members.
The Metropolitan transaction illustrates the latter approach. The owners are selling three dealerships while maintaining Rosedale Chevrolet and Superior Ford for continued family ownership.
A Generational Transition
Family succession remains a major consideration throughout the automotive dealership industry. Many dealerships have been operated by the same families for decades, creating businesses that combine commercial value with significant family history.
The Metropolitan transaction demonstrates how a dealership group can manage a generational transition while maintaining a presence in the industry.
The sale of three dealerships creates liquidity for the current owners and allows them to pursue other investments. At the same time, retaining two dealerships provides the family’s children with an opportunity to remain involved in automotive retail.
This approach can help address one of the major challenges facing family-owned dealership groups: balancing the financial objectives of existing owners with the long-term interests of future generations.
The transaction also highlights the importance of professional advisory services when ownership groups are navigating complex dealership sales. Dealership transactions can involve manufacturer approvals, real estate considerations, financing, accounting, legal matters, employee transitions and operational planning.
Nearly 300 Employees Join Walser
One of the most significant aspects of the transaction is its impact on employees. Walser has stated that nearly 300 employees will join the organization as part of the acquisition.
For those employees, the transaction represents a transition to a larger automotive retail organization while maintaining their connection to established dealership operations in the Minneapolis area.
Employee continuity can also be important for customers. Dealership personnel often maintain long-standing relationships with vehicle buyers, service customers and commercial clients. Preserving experienced teams can help maintain continuity during an ownership transition.
For Walser, integrating nearly 300 additional employees will expand its workforce and add experienced professionals to its Minnesota operations.
Advisory and Legal Teams
Haig Partners was supported by several professional advisers during the transaction.
David Ezrilov of Stinson LLP provided legal services to Metropolitan, while Jen Moylan of Withum, Inc. provided accounting services.
Moore & Van Allen provided legal services to Walser.
The transaction adds to Haig Partners’ extensive experience in automotive dealership mergers and acquisitions. The firm’s team has participated in the purchase or sale of 136 dealerships in the Midwest and 602 dealerships nationwide.
That transaction experience has positioned Haig Partners as an adviser to dealership owners evaluating sales, acquisitions, succession strategies and other ownership changes.
What the Deal Means for Automotive Retail
The acquisition of Metropolitan Ford, Freeway Ford and Suburban Chevrolet reflects several broader developments in automotive retail.
Large dealership groups continue to seek opportunities to expand their geographic footprints and increase scale, while family-owned operators are evaluating succession, liquidity and long-term ownership strategies.
The transaction also demonstrates that dealership sales do not necessarily mean the complete departure of a family from automotive retail. By retaining Rosedale Chevrolet and Superior Ford, Metropolitan’s current owners can continue operating dealerships while their children have the opportunity to participate in the next phase of the family’s automotive business.
For Walser, meanwhile, the acquisition provides a significant increase in its Twin Cities operations and adds nearly 300 employees to the organization.
The deal therefore represents both a strategic expansion for the buyer and a generational transition for the seller.
As dealership valuations remain an important consideration for owners and buyers, transactions such as this one are likely to remain an important part of the evolving automotive retail landscape. Dealership groups with strong operating performance can attract buyers seeking growth, while owners looking toward retirement, diversification or family succession can use transactions to achieve their financial and strategic objectives.
The Metropolitan transaction demonstrates how those objectives can come together in a single deal: an established family dealership group creates liquidity and preserves selected operations for the next generation, while a large automotive retailer expands its market presence and workforce.
With Walser adding three dealerships to its Minnesota operations and Metropolitan continuing to operate two locations under family ownership, the transaction creates a new chapter for both organizations in the Minneapolis automotive market.
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