General RV Center is acquiring Winter Garden, Florida-based Independence RV. The store will be General RV’s sixth Florida location, doubling the dealership group’s Florida footprint since the beginning of 2023.
Independence RV, owned since opening in 1985 by Ronnie Jordan, is a Newmar-exclusive dealership and has won numerous Newmar awards for sales and service excellence. Jordan is retiring after the sale.
At Newmar’s dealer meeting in April, Independence RV was named a Sales Excellence Award winner and a Diamond Service Excellence Award winner, Newmar’s highest service honor.
General RV President Loren Baidas noted Independence RV’s award-winning history.
“As demonstrated by the excellent reputation and relationship Independence RV has built with its customers, in addition to the dedication of its team,” Baidas said, “we are fortunate to be the stewards moving forward of the quality, family-owned business built here.”
General RV began 2023 with three Florida stores. The dealership group announced its fourth store, in Fort Pierce, in November. Its fifth store, in Fort Myers, was also announced in November and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2024.
Independence RV is located 20 miles west of Orlando in central Florida. General RV said the dealership’s existing employees will remain as the company explores opportunities to grow the business.
“Everyone we have talked to is happy that I sold to General RV,” Jordan said. “It really is the best fit for our dealership and our people.”
This is the sixth new location General RV has announced in 2023. The store will be General RV’s 20th location nationwide.
In November, General RV acquired Stoltzfus RV and Marine, making it the company’s second Pennsylvania store in West Chester, PA.
Earlier this year, General RV broke ground on a second dealership in South Weber, Utah, and its first North Carolina store, in Salisbury. Both locations are scheduled to open in late 2024.
