The automotive dealership landscape in the Ohio-West Virginia border region has shifted with the recent acquisition of Pioneer Honda Of Parkersburg, along with two other dealerships, by Thomas and Ashley Peden. The sale, brokered by Tim Lamb Group, marks a significant expansion for the Pedens and a strategic realignment for previous owner Richard Nourse.
The transaction, finalized on October 17th, included Pioneer Chevrolet and Family Ford Lincoln, both located in Marietta, Ohio, in addition to Pioneer Honda in Parkersburg, West Virginia. For the Pedens, this acquisition represents an opportunity to build upon their existing dealership platform and further their growth vision in the automotive retail sector.
Located at 1920 Garfield Ave. in Parkersburg, WV, Pioneer Honda will be rebranded as Parkersburg Honda. The Marietta dealerships will also see name adjustments, with Pioneer Chevrolet retaining its name and Family Ford Lincoln becoming Pioneer Ford Lincoln.
Richard Nourse, a veteran of over 35 years in the automotive market, made the strategic decision to sell these three dealerships to concentrate on his remaining five locations in Chillicothe, Ohio. These dealerships encompass the Ford, Honda, Lincoln, Nissan, and Toyota brands.
“I wasn’t actively seeking to sell, but the opportunity to sell to the Pedens was compelling,” Nourse stated. He further added, “The Pedens’ reputation and achievements in the Zanesville market are well-known, and I am confident they are the ideal successors to continue the legacy we’ve established in the community.”
Thomas Peden II, a West Virginia native and third-generation car dealer, entered dealership ownership in June 2020 with the purchase of two dealerships in Zanesville, OH. Ashley Peden, his sister, joined him in 2020 to manage the Zanesville Honda Toyota dealerships and is now a partner in this expanded venture.
All three dealerships are geographically close, within 15 miles of each other and approximately 45 minutes from the Pedens’ hometown. Importantly, the dealerships will retain their current employees and maintain their involvement in the community organizations that were priorities under Nourse’s ownership.
