Harkness buys out Warren Motors

STERLING – Pete Harkness, owner of several automotive dealerships in Illinois and Iowa, has bought out GM and Chrysler dealer Jerry Warren Motors in Sterling.

Harkness inked the deal with Warren Motor Co. for the Locust Street dealership on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount after about 3 months of negotiations, then publicized the sale Wednesday, he said.

The buyout ends Warren Motor Co.'s 40-year run in Sterling, and brings to seven the number of car and truck dealerships owned by the Harkness Auto Group.

Together with the Ford-Lincoln dealership and the Payday Auto Credit store on state Route 40, Harkness now owns three car dealerships around the Locust Street-Lynn Boulevard intersection.

"I'm excited for this end of town, with Wahl Clipper doing their extension and Kroger doing their expansion with a new gas station," Harkness said.

"There's been a lot of revitalization in this area, and the economy is what you make of it."

Tuesday's deal also adds the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Buick lines to the Harkness Auto Group's portfolio.

"I'm excited because Chrysler and Jeep has numerous new designs coming out this year, and it's a niche we were missing in our auto group," Harkness said.

Jerry Warren will be renamed "Harkness Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Buick," Harkness said.

A statement from the Warren Motor Co. congratulated Harkness on the deal and encouraged Warren's former customers to support Harkness.

"We wish Pete Harkness and his family the best of luck and would like to thank all of our customers for their past support and would urge them to continue to support Pete Harkness Auto Group," the statement read.

In addition to increasing vehicle inventory, Tuesday's deal also has the Auto Group planning to expand its service department.

Harkness said all former Warren Motors employees were interviewed Wednesday morning and given the opportunity to continue working in the same building.

The former Warren building also will undergo a renovation of the service department and sales floor within a year, Harkness said. He declined to say how much he planned to spend on the renovations.