Mid-River Lotus in St. Louis Closed - LotusTalk

Feffman · 08-04-2009, 03:36 PM

Just got a call from the head of STALLS, Eric Nordstorm, noting Mid-Rivers in St. Louis is closed as of late last week.

Feff

darkSol · 08-04-2009, 04:36 PM

RIP MidRivers...

Website's still up though... hmm.

avonnieda · 08-04-2009, 05:36 PM

Bummer man, if it's true. I test drove there, and they got me a new windshield recently. Seemed like a nice group.

Feffman · 08-05-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkSol

Website's still up though... hmm.

Drove by today and the Mid-Rivers lot is barren. They still have the round Lotus signs on the building. Wonder if those are for sale?

Feff

rcollum · 08-05-2009, 10:28 AM

I was wondering, when I saw the announcement of the new dealer, how STL could support two Lotus franchises.

I bought my Europa TC from Checkpoint America back in 1980. I had service done there, and later at the Toyota/Lotus dealer on Manchester and Lindbergh. I was surprised to see the dealership way out in St. Charles when I came back to town several years ago. I never saw any indication that there was enough business for anything more than one small Lotus dealership. I'd be happy if the upcoming new products could help that out, though - and not just in STL.

maz · 08-05-2009, 10:59 AM

they did nothing but wrong by me.

jlj3394 · 08-25-2009, 08:31 PM

Mike in service was the only good thing about that dealership.

FIL · 08-25-2009, 08:39 PM

I grew up in STL and lived there for 16 years. I'm surprised there is even one lotus dealer. It much more of a camaro market. Heck, I had a Camaro when I lived there.

Not saying there aren't lotus lovers there, just not enough to support a dealership. I'm not aware of any road courses anywhere in the area.

wallabyguy · 08-26-2009, 07:13 AM

Adding additional dealerships in already occupied markets is not a long term solution to Lotus' issues. It only serves to devalue the brand for the existing network as sales fall per location and the ownership/management sees less reason to back the brand. Better dealers with a more active and aggressive involvement in the community and commitment to brand knowledge and representation is the best way to navigate the market. Find markets without representation if you want to add locations but doubling up is a bad idea unless there is solid demographic data to back up such expansion.

MikeRoberts44 · 08-26-2009, 07:37 AM

I bought my Elise from Mid-Rivers in 2005. I have always been pleased with the sales and service. The drive across I-70 from KC, not so much. I have never understood why St. Louis got a second dealership while we are still waiting for our first. I may not need an Evora as soon as I thought.

lotustype74 · 08-26-2009, 07:23 PM

The story I got about Midrivers is that they were owned by one of the bigest auto wholesalers in the area. He wanted a place in St Peters but the only way he could be there was to have a new car line. He could sell used but he had to have a new car dealership. Hence Lotus so he could sell the used cars which was the big money maker. Mike the service manager landed at St. Louis Motorsports the Lambo dealer.

lotustype74 · 08-26-2009, 07:25 PM

........by the way there was a road course in the 1970s in Wientsville (sp) but it may be closed now. They use to race alot of SCCA many years ago.

FIL · 08-26-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotustype74

........by the way there was a road course in the 1970s in Wientsville (sp) but it may be closed now. They use to race alot of SCCA many years ago.

Too bad, its flat enough and land is relatively cheap. So I don't see why they don't build a course.

muskaroxs · 11-12-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIL

I grew up in STL and lived there for 16 years. I'm surprised there is even one lotus dealer. It much more of a camaro market. Heck, I had a Camaro when I lived there.

Not saying there aren't lotus lovers there, just not enough to support a dealership. I'm not aware of any road courses anywhere in the area.

Ever hear of Gateway Internatinal speedway? I've seen a couple of Lotus owners out there. I attend about six track days a year at Gateway.

08-04-2009, 03:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Feffman Grand Poobah Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 865	Mid-River Lotus in St. Louis Closed Just got a call from the head of STALLS, Eric Nordstorm, noting Mid-Rivers in St. Louis is closed as of late last week. Feff __________________ MVP Track Time

08-04-2009, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
darkSol Meow!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leawood, KS Posts: 2,576	RIP MidRivers... Website's still up though... hmm. __________________ d.a..v...i....d David Thomas Stewart - davidtstewart@gmail.com TVS Supercharged 2005 Graphite Grey Lotus Elise: 286whp, 1781lbs. Lotus cars aren't made, they're hand built from dreams. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

08-04-2009, 05:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
avonnieda Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Edwardsville, KS Posts: 57	Bummer man, if it's true. I test drove there, and they got me a new windshield recently. Seemed like a nice group. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, desnorkeled - Hey, it's a start.. 1997 Ducati 748

08-05-2009, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
rcollum We're usin' code names! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 263	STL Dealerships I was wondering, when I saw the announcement of the new dealer, how STL could support two Lotus franchises. I bought my Europa TC from Checkpoint America back in 1980. I had service done there, and later at the Toyota/Lotus dealer on Manchester and Lindbergh. I was surprised to see the dealership way out in St. Charles when I came back to town several years ago. I never saw any indication that there was enough business for anything more than one small Lotus dealership. I'd be happy if the upcoming new products could help that out, though - and not just in STL. __________________ --Bob _____________________________________ '07 Ardent Red Elise/Biscuit - Hardtop, touring, LSS, black nose badge, AD07s. Thanks, Arnie!

08-05-2009, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
maz uniter not a divider Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 1,303	they did nothing but wrong by me. __________________ www.lotuscarclub.org "Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know." (rumsfeld)

08-25-2009, 08:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
jlj3394 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 844	Mike in service was the only good thing about that dealership. __________________ 05 GG Elise: Exige clam, LSS, Stage 2, ACT HD, DBA5000, CF scoops/splitter/mirrors/panels Others: Lex ES300Coach, Volvo V70R 300hp/260k Missed:01&04 Wranglers, 71 CJ5(225V6) Need a Johnson County or Kansas City personal injury/wrongful death attorney/lawyer/law firm?http://www.kcatty.com Looking for a Johnson County, KS DUI lawyer/attorney? http://www.JohnsonCountyDUI.com Need a Johnson County, KS lawyer/attorney to help amend or fix a speeding/traffic ticket? http://www.JoCoTraffic.com

08-25-2009, 08:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
FIL Serial Thrilla Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 236	I grew up in STL and lived there for 16 years. I'm surprised there is even one lotus dealer. It much more of a camaro market. Heck, I had a Camaro when I lived there. Not saying there aren't lotus lovers there, just not enough to support a dealership. I'm not aware of any road courses anywhere in the area. __________________ 05' Elise - BWR supercharger, Quaife LSD, Nitron Race Triple Adjustable, LETSLA, Larini Decat, Larini Exhuast, ACT HDSS, Fidanza flywheel, V2 Fuel Tank, V2 Steering Arms, BWR sway bar, desnorkled, ForcedFed CF splitter, Manly's engine mounts, S111 harness bar, Schroth harness w/ S111 seat grommets, Oil Drain Valve, Painted Black Diffuser, Braille battery, Custom Battery Switch 05' Corvette - Z51 Convertible - 630hp 6.6L [DON'T YOU JUDGE ME!!!] (SOLD!)

08-26-2009, 07:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
wallabyguy Not Dead Yet Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 5,897	Adding additional dealerships in already occupied markets is not a long term solution to Lotus' issues. It only serves to devalue the brand for the existing network as sales fall per location and the ownership/management sees less reason to back the brand. Better dealers with a more active and aggressive involvement in the community and commitment to brand knowledge and representation is the best way to navigate the market. Find markets without representation if you want to add locations but doubling up is a bad idea unless there is solid demographic data to back up such expansion. __________________ former Lotus Sales Robert (aka Sith Lord of LBL) 74 Elite 502 05 Elise (Snuffalupagous..RIP : Laser Blue, Black Leather, Touring Pack, Hardtop ) The Wallaby Will Ride Again

08-26-2009, 07:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
MikeRoberts44 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Kansas City Posts: 620	I bought my Elise from Mid-Rivers in 2005. I have always been pleased with the sales and service. The drive across I-70 from KC, not so much. I have never understood why St. Louis got a second dealership while we are still waiting for our first. I may not need an Evora as soon as I thought.

08-26-2009, 07:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
lotustype74 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 85	The story I got about Midrivers is that they were owned by one of the bigest auto wholesalers in the area. He wanted a place in St Peters but the only way he could be there was to have a new car line. He could sell used but he had to have a new car dealership. Hence Lotus so he could sell the used cars which was the big money maker. Mike the service manager landed at St. Louis Motorsports the Lambo dealer.

08-26-2009, 07:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
lotustype74 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 85	........by the way there was a road course in the 1970s in Wientsville (sp) but it may be closed now. They use to race alot of SCCA many years ago.

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