The Shinkat family, which owned Shimkat Motor Co. since 1947, has finalized an agreement with the Johnson family, which owns Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota, for the sale of its dealership.

Effective at 8 a.m. today, the business will now be named Fort Dodge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

“We’re going to take care of their team, their customers and most importantly, their legacy,” said Casey Johnson, owner of Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota. “We’ll uphold that from today until forever.”

Ed Shimkat Jr., one of the owners of Shimkat Motor Co., added “It’s a great transition. We’re handing the reins over to a great family.”

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Discussing the transition of Shimkat Motor Co. to new ownership are from left, Ed Shimkat Jr., Bill Shimkat, Matt Johnson, Nick Johnson, Casey Johnson and Bruce Shimkat.

Bruce Shimkat, who was a co-owner of the dealership from 1974 to 2019, said he is very happy that the business is going to a “family that is focused on Fort Dodge people, understands the Fort Dodge community and supports the Fort Dodge community.”

Casey Johnson said the “liberal return and best price up front” policies at Fort Dodge Ford will be implemented at Fort Dodge Chrysler. He said the inventory of new and used vehicles will be increased.

Matt Johnson, dealer at Fort Dodge Ford, said his family will lean on the “wealth of knowledge” that the Shimkat employees have.

Over the years, the Shimkat family had used its dealership to support the Coats for Kids and Socks for the Sole collection efforts, The dealership building at 3126 Fifth Ave. S. has also been the site of the Maskearade Ball fundraiser for the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. Matt Johnson said those community efforts will continue under his family’s ownership.

Edward A. Shimkat and George Shimkat received a DeSoto and Plymouth franchise on May 14, 1947. The dealership opened June 1, 1947. Bruce Shimkat said the area had been hit by an unusual late May snow storm and there was still snow on the ground when the dealership opened.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Members of two Fort Dodge families with decades of experience in the car dealership business came together Tuesday to discuss the acquisition of Shimkat Motor Co. by the Johnson family, which owns Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota. From left are Bruce Shimkat, Bill Shimkat, Ed Shimkat Jr., Matt Johnson, Casey Johnson and Nick Johnson.

The business started in temporary quarters and soon moved to 1225 Second Ave. S., where it remained until 2004

Dodge was added to the lineup in 1957 followed by Chrysler in 1964.

The founders passed the business on to Bruce Shimkat and Edward C. Shimkat.

In 2009, the dealership was passed to the third generation, Ed Shimkat Jr and Bill Shimkat, who are the sons of Edward C. Shimkat.

But Bill Shimkat said his children and the children of Ed Shimkat Jr. are not interested in taking over the business. He said he and his brother were considering a five-year plan to retirement.

A new job in Washington, D.C., for the wife of Ed Shimkat Jr. jumpstarted the retirement process. In March, Lisa Shimkat was named associate administrator for field operations and acting associate administrator for the Office of International Trade in the U.S. Small Business Administration and moved to the Washington area. He plans to join her there.

“I didn’t marry her so I could live hundreds of miles away from her,” he said.

While he will be moving to the East Coast, Bill Shimkat will remain in Fort Dodge. He said he may help his wife, Dr. Kim Shimkat, with the business aspects of her veterinary practice.