RV Retailer LLC, the second-largest dealer group in North America, announced what could be its last acquisition of 2021 with Great Escape’s RV Center’s three full-service RV stores in Arkansas and Missouri.
The acquisitions, which are expected to be completed in December, will expand RVR’s presence in Missouri to three stores and will be RVR’s first store in Arkansas.
Jon Ferrando, RV Retailer president and CEO, said the Great Escapes RV Center completes a “great” year of acquisitions.
“The Great Escapes RV Center caps a great year of growth for RVR with 52 stores added in 2021,” Ferrando said. “This gives us 90 stores in 26 states to drive us towards our goal to serve our customers wherever their travels may take them.”
Although Ferrando said the acquisition capped the year of growth, RV Retailer stated there could be one more announcement before the end of 2021.
RV Retailer began 2020 with 23 retail stores, adding an additional 15 that year to begin 2021 with 38 stores. With 90 locations, RV Retailer is second only to Camping World as the nation’s largest dealer group.
Ferrando called the Great Escapes Center a growing business in markets with excellent RV demographics, including the Ozarks.
“We are excited to enter Northwest Arkansas with a 40-acre location, great brands and a large service, parts and collision operation,” Ferrando said. “The Great Escapes store in Springfield, Missouri, on I-44 is brand new and will give us excellent growth in that market. The St. Louis store is also right on I-44 and marks our entry into the St. Louis market.”
Raul Rodriguez, senior vice president of corporate development, noted the Great Escapes RV Center was founded in 1999, and thanked owner David Chamberlin for selecting RV Retailer as the next owners. Rodriguez said the stores will be under the the direction of Larry Hall, RVR regional president.
Hall welcomed the Great Escapes RV Center team members to RV Retailer, and said the business is “well-positioned with leading RV brands.”
Great Escapes RV Centers in Mountain Home, Arkansas sits on 40 acres on the south side of US Highway 62 just east of the White River outside of Bull Shoals Lake. The St. Louis, store is located off Interstate 44 on the west side of St Louis in Eureka. The Springfield, Missouri, store is in Strafford on the north side of Interstate 44 near the Bass Pro’s Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.
