Birdnow closes two stores, but retains commitment to Monona

For over 40 years, the Birdnow family has operated northeast Iowa car dealerships in Monona, Oelwein, Cascade and Jesup. Having raised their family in Jesup, where their sons graduated from high school and later entered the family business, the Birdnow family announced it has recently sold its Cascade and Jesup stores.

The Cascade store was sold to a Dubuque dealer who wished to expand his network of new car dealerships; Jesup was sold to Rydell’s, of Waterloo. While the family tried hard to find a suitable buyer for its Jesup store, the best option turned out to be Rydell’s, who has closed it in order to have less competition for their existing stores.

“We’ve arranged that all of our employees were either offered a job in our Oelwein store, or Rydell’s offered some of them jobs at their locations,” said Mark Birdnow.

The Birdnow family preserves its long-standing support of and commitment to the communities of Monona, as well as Oelwein. Sons Justin and Jeremy Birdnow, who have a combined 20-plus year-management track record working at their family’s four stores, have both moved into full-time management positions at the two stores. Jeremy, 37, will manage the Oelwein store, while Justin, 34, will manage the Monona store. Mark Birdnow will remain involved in the overall business, and his sons will manage the local day-to-day operations in their respective stores.

“This makes such a strong statement to our Monona-area community that this is where Birdnow Chevrolet wants to be,” said Monona Chamber and Economic Development Executive Director Rogeta Halvorson. “It’s equally important that everyone here supports it and all local businesses by giving them the first chance to supply the products and services we need and want, which helps to boost a thriving local economy.”

Monona-area folks are invited to a customer appreciation breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 7 to 11 a.m., at Birdnow’s Monona store at 12634 Falcon Dr. (lower Main Street). The event will be hosted by the MFL Lions Club. Designed to thank customers in person for their patronage, the Lions Club also wants people to meet Justin Birdnow, to welcome him to the Monona store.

To further their commitment to Monona, Justin and his wife, Meghan, recently purchased a home right outside of Monona, and soon will move their three young daughters to the community to become future MFL MarMac students.

For more information, please contact Justin Birdnow at  justinb@birdnow.com, (563) 539-2061 or stop into the store.