Camping World/Good Sam acquire two stores
Lincolnshire-based Camping World, the nation’s largest RV and outdoor retailer, and Good Sam, the world’s largest RV owners organization, said it will acquire American RV, announced the acquisition of two dealerships in Mississippi and Florida.
Terms of the acquisitions were not announced.
Camping World said it will acquire an existing RV dealership in Olive Branch, Miss. in the next 60 to 90 days. Plans are for the location to undergo expansion to renovate into larger facility including additional service bays, a new Camping World retail store and a collision center. The company has nearby RV SuperCenters in the Little Rock, Nashville and Calera markets and a total of seven stores in the greater regional area.
“We are pleased to begin the acquisition of American RV and expand our market share throughout Mississippi as well as nearby Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee,” said Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam. “We expect the greater Memphis market to allow us to broaden our customer reach, build upon our market leadership position in recreational sales, and make Camping World the leading retailer in the growing outdoor market.”
The SuperCenter will be officially named Camping World of Memphis and located at 8150 New Craft Road. The Camping World of Memphis is the first full service location in Mississippi for Camping World, however the company, Lemonis and family have long standing ties to the nearby Memphis area with its continuous support of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases which is headquartered in Memphis.
The new SuperCenter in the Memphis market will add to Camping World’s future growth plans and the company expects to soon announce several additional markets of expansion throughout the country.
The company has also agreed to Holiday on Wheels, an existing RV dealership in Panama City, Fla in the next 90 to 120 days with an official grand opening a few months later. Plans are for the location to undergo expansion to renovate into a larger facility including additional service bays, a new Camping World retail store and a state of the art collision center.
“We are pleased to begin the acquisition of Holiday on Wheels and expand our market share throughout Florida,” said Lemonis. “We are no stranger to the state of Florida and with all the activities Panama City offers — shopping, boating, hiking, fishing, state parks, and so much more, bringing a full service RV SuperCenter here to better serve the RV industry makes sense and completes our presence in the panhandle.”
The SuperCenter will be officially named Camping World of Panama City and will be the third Camping World RV SuperCenter in the Panhandle, with nearby locations in Tallahassee and Gulf Breeze.
“We expect the Panama City market along with its proximity to the major tourist areas of Destin and Fort Walton to allow us to broaden our customer reach, build upon our market leadership position in recreational sales, and make Camping World the leading retailer in the growing outdoor market,” said Lemonis. “I always look for three things: People, Process and Product in relation to enhancing our Camping World and Good Sam presence. Our goal is always to add quality manufacturers and brands, service our customers, increase our presence in the market, and grow the workforce.”