LAKELAND – Cannon Automotive Group has been acquired by a West Palm Beach dealer .
Myers Auto Group, LLC of West Palm Beach announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Cannon Automotive Group, Inc. of Lakeland, a press release stated.
As a result, the Cannon brands will be renamed Subaru Lakeland, Cadillac Lakeland and Buick Lakeland. The new dealership will serve the Lakeland area, including Tampa and Brandon. Subaru Lakeland is already open for business.
The amount of the transaction which took place Sept. 1, was not disclosed. Danny Cannon said the sale included the new and used car sales business and the properties, including the car lot and a nearby office building.
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The history of the family-owned and managed Cannon car dealerships dates to 1949 as Streater Buick, Inc. It was Danny Cannon’s father, Wendell A. Cannon, who first worked at Streater Buick and then purchased the business in 1964.
Danny is one of three brothers who took over the business from their father. Their names are Richard H. Cannon and Terry Cannon. The brothers took over in 1993. They started with the Buick dealership and added Cadillacs in 2001 and Buicks in 2010, he said.
The brothers were reaching retirement age and their business was thriving, said Danny Cannon, giving reasons for selling the business. “The years leading up to Covid were our best years,” he said. In addition, he liked Myers’ commitment to providing a good home for his former employees.
“Because we kept Cannon’s staff intact, the transition has gone very smoothly,” said dealer principal Stephen Myers Jr. “Another important reason is, Myers Auto Group shares Cannon’s customer-first philosophy and active involvement in the community.”
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Added Myers: “Cannon earned a reputation for providing outstanding customer service and half a century in business speaks for itself. Obviously, the Cannon family did a lot of things right, and by retaining their experienced staff, we hope to continue that legacy.”
Myers Auto Group is also family owned and has been in operation since 2013. Myers is a member of the Automobile Dealers Industry, according to a press release.
Beyond Lakeland, Myers dealerships include Aston Martin Palm Beach, Jaguar Palm Beach, Land Rover Palm Beach, McLaren Palm Beach, Kia Delray, Subaru South Tampa, and Subaru North Orlando.
Paul Nutcher covers business and industry for The Ledger. He can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com.