Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

[Gary B.]

I received the shipping data report yesterday for my '66 L79 and I was curious to know if anyone has any information about Rodenfels Chevrolet that used to located on 555 West Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio. From an internet search, I believe Rodenfels opened in 1924, and as best I can tell they are no longer in business. I was just curious to know when they went out of business.

I think there might have been a Rodenfels Chevrolet in Cleveland, as well, but it could just be that some info on the web has Cleveland and Columbus mixed up.

Thanks,

Gary

[Richard L.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Byers Chevrolet is at the address right now. But I don't know when the changeover occured. Probably Tom at Bud's will know...

[Terry W.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

same address , now,Byers Chevrolet ???. worth a call ?

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Byers.Downtown.Chevrolet.888-237-5943

[Doug L.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Hi Terry,
I lived in Columbus from age 5 until finishing high school. They were in business in 1961 but I'm fairly certain they were gone when I moved back in 1970.

Doug Loeffler

[Tom H.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Contact John A. Herzog 390 E Broad St
Columbus Ohio 43215 13-DEC-82 Inactive

This is the contact name at time of dealer name change in 1982. Don't know if it will open any doors or not.

[Gary B.]

Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Thanks Guys. I've sent an e-mail from the Byers website asking for any info they have on the dealer change. I'll post what they reply.

I believe there was indeed a second Rodenfels Chevy dealership on Pearl St. in Cleveland.

Gary

[Doug L.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

No need to ask Byers. The data is on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

There was a corporation called "Jim Rodenfels Used Cars". It doesn't show the date of incorporation, but it does indicate that it went out of business on Oct 22, 1982. It fiuther shows that it "merged out of existence" on September 30, 1985.

Another record shows that Jim Rodenfels Used Cars became Byers Chevrolet on August 27, 1982.

Coincidentally Jim Rodenfels lived 2 streets west of where I lived during elementary, high school and OSU.

Doug Loeffler

[Gary B.]

Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Thanks Doug. And did Rodenfels really open for business in 1924? I found one document on the web that said they were celebrating their 43rd year in business in 1967.

Gary

PS I assume the business started out in 1924 as Rodenfels Used Cars and became a Chevrolet dealership sometime later. Anyone know when the first true GM "dealerships" came into being?

[Doug L.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Hi Gary,
Like I said, I didn't find info on the original incorporation of the company. Here is the link. You can search business names. Maybe I didn't search enough to find the original incorporation data.

Doug
http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/portal/PORTAL_BS.BS_QRY_PRIOR_BUS_NAME.show

[Gary B.]

Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Doug,

I can't find anything else on that website. It seems a bit odd to me that a GM dealership would have "Used Cars" as the primary descriptor in their business name. But I suppose it's possible.

Gary

[Doug L.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Hi Gary,
No telling what the situation may have been. maybe when he started the business it was used cars and he later got a franchise. He probably wouldn't have had to re-incorporate, just sell under a different trade name. I don't recall Rodenfels as a used car dealer but it was 40+ years ago.

The first search I did only turned up the info on the "used car" name. I did another search that disclosed the change to Byers. Maybe you need to try searching more or in a different way.
Doug

[David B.]

Re: Anyone know Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Gary, I own a '67 convertible that was sold new at Rodenfels, and am fortunate enough to have a bunch of original documentation from this dealership.
Their "legal" name on paperwork was "The Rodenfels Chevrolet Company" For marketing purposes they used "Rodenfels Chevy City". I've attached a copy of a warranty letter from the dealership which shows a picture of the old "Rodenfels Chevy City" sign and dealership buildings at 555 West Broad Street.
As others have noted, Rodenfels was bought out by Byers Chevrolet, who's still operating a Chevy dealership at this location.
I've got some more docs which I'd be happy to share with you. Just shoot me an e-mail. dborror@columbus.rr.com Regards, Dave

[Gary B.]

Rodenfels Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

I heard from someone at Byers Chevrolet and he says that the Rodenfels dealership was sold in 1980, bought by Curtis Green from Kentucky, who sold out to Byers in 1982. The early 1980's was not the best time to be selling cars, with high interest rates and high gas prices. In any case, it appears there has been a Chevy dealership at that Broad Street in Columbus address for 86 years.

According to Wikipedia, Chevrolet was acquired by GM in 1917, and I found one Chevy dealership in PA on the internet that says they've been in business since 1918. So, the 1924 time frame for a Chevy dealership is possible.

Gary