South Lake Tahoe car dealership changes hands

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As the season changes it is also the changing of the guard at Cardinale Way in South Lake Tahoe after it was sold to a Texas company, Jim Bagan Toyota.

Joe Cardinale and Jim Bagan ran into each other at a Mazda convention (both have dealerships with that brand as well as Toyota) a few years ago. Whenever they met up after that Bagan would ask Cardinale when he wanted to sell his South Lake Tahoe location according to General Manager Gary Hamner. Each time Cardinale would say "no" until a few months ago.

As of October 1, 2018, Cardinale Way in South Lake Tahoe became Jim Bagan Toyota.

The local sales, service and office staff were all offered jobs with the new company so customers can expect the same family atmosphere to greet them as they walk in the door.

The dealership, which is located on Lake Tahoe Boulevard, is now going through a major remodel to give those bringing their cars into the service center the ability to just drive through and not have to deal with the elements. They are also expanding to include a new entrance.

The company has also leased the car lot at the corner of Winnemucca Avenue and Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe where they will sell used cars. Hamner said they are just finishing up the license requirements and will open any day (the cars are already there). Once the remodel is completed the main lot will have more new cars in their inventory than seen in the past.

Bagan is no stranger to Lake Tahoe though as he grew up in North Lake Tahoe, attended college in Austin, Texas, went into the car business and returned to the North Shore to buy a home.

The location was once home to Whiteside Chevrolet until 1969 when Dick and Wendy Shehadi purchased the dealership. They operated the family business at that location for 38 years until 2007 when Cardinale purchased it.

Hamner said they are very community oriented and will continue the Cardinale Way tradition of feeding the homeless every Thursday. They have also donated the car to be used as a hole-in-one prize at this month's Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe Golf Tournament.