The downtown Sioux City skyline serves as a backdrop to Knoepfler Chevrolet, at 100 Jackson St., on Feb. 15. Ben Knoepfler is a member of the Downtown Partners board, which is seeking City Council approval to renew its taxing district and expand the boundaries in the Pearl Street area.
SIOUX CITY | Customers at Knoepfler Chevrolet now wait in style thanks to a $2 million renovation to the dealership and service center’s downtown Sioux City facility.
The improvements include an enhanced showroom, a new customer lounge and improved service and vehicle delivery areas at 100 Jackson St. The remodel, which started in late 2011, wrapped up in July.
“The original building for this specific location was build in 1971, so it was definitely time for us to do a face lift down here,” said Joe Knoepfler, heads of the company’s marketing department.
The renovation includes new flooring, lighting, windows and furniture.
Changes included moving administrative offices to another area of the building, freeing up room for a larger showroom, and constructing a new waiting area.
The waiting area now offers free wireless Internet, coffee, hot chocolate, freshly popped Jolly Time popcorn and comfortable chairs. It features two flat-screen televisions, including one in a new children’s area.
Customers can also drive their car into a new addition, which allows them to drop-off their car indoors and talk to a service technician before leaving for the waiting area. Serviced vehicles are picked up in the same location.
Some upgrades were required to meet new General Motors Co. standards. For Knoepfler, the timing was perfect.
“For us it was really good timing,” Knoepfler said. “The building was built in 1971 and there wasn’t a whole lot that had been done to it since.”
He said the renovation is symbolic of Knoefler’s commitment to downtown Sioux City.
“We just really truly believe in the downtown area,” Knoepfler said. “We believe that it’s going to bounce back real strong.
The family business, owned by Charlie and Bill Knoepfler, celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2012. The company was founded by Duane Kidder and Ryal Miller in 1922. The dealership operated at several downtown Sioux City locations before moving in the 1930s to the intersection of Ninth and Pierce streets. It remained there until its relocation to Jackson St. site in 1971.
In addition to the downtown location, Knoepfler also owns pre-owned car sales lots on Gordon Drive in Sioux City and in Onawa, Iowa. It also owns the Napa Auto Parts store on Singing Hills Drive.
The downtown Sioux City skyline serves as a backdrop to Knoepfler Chevrolet, at 100 Jackson St., on Feb. 15. Ben Knoepfler is a member of the Downtown Partners board, which is seeking City Council approval to renew its taxing district and expand the boundaries in the Pearl Street area.
