INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. -

Ken Garff Automotive Group has purchased two Arizona stores from Earnhardt Auto Centers.

The deal was announced Thursday by Kerrigan Advisors, which represented Earnhardt Auto Centers in the sale of Earhardt Kia in Phoenix and Rodeo Hyundai in Surprise, Ariz.

These marked the second and third stores Kerrigan has sold in the Phoenix area over the last year, after having sold Bell Road Toyota to Lithia in October.

“We were pleased to advise Earnhardt Auto Centers, one of the nation’s leading dealership groups, in the sale of their valuable Kia and Hyundai franchises,” said Erin Kerrigan, founder and managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, in a news release. 

“Earnhardt has built one of the strongest names in the Arizona market based on a reputation of exceptional customer and employee service, instilled by its founder Tex Earnhardt.  It was important to find a buyer with the same family focus and one who would continue the Earnhardt’s legacy of caring for their customers and their employees.”

Earnhardt Auto Centers co-owner Hal Earnhardt said: “Kerrigan Advisors identified the perfect buyer for our stores, one that appreciated the value of entering the Phoenix market with great import brands.

“Kerrigan Advisors was critical to the success of this transaction. We are very pleased to know these dealerships will be run by another family-owned and operated dealership group with the same customer service focus and appreciation for employees,” he said.

Ken Garff Automotive Group chief executive officer Brett Hopkins added: “Kerrigan Advisors was instrumental to this transaction. Erin and her team do an incredible job working with their clients to make sure the sale process runs smoothly.”