Halladay Auto Group changing ownership

Casey is a longtime employee and the auto group’s vice president and general manager.

Although there will be a new owner, both men agreed that the current philosophy and culture will not change for its employees and customers.

“This is really a seamless transaction for our employees, our customers and our manufacturers,” Joannides said.

He announced the succession plan Tuesday night at a grand opening of the extensively renovated Halladay Motors Cadillac Buick GMC at 2100 Westland Road. The renovations cost more than $2 million.

As many as 300 to 400 people packed into the remodeled showroom Tuesday. They listened to a string trio play classical music, and enjoyed hot catered food and conversations. Guests included customers, family members and friends; city, county and state elected officials; representatives from car companies and Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead.

Halladay Motors Cadillac Buick GMC has been locally owned since Carl Halladay Sr. started the business in 1944. The dealership was passed to Halladay’s son, Carl Jr., and he sold it to Joannides in 1993.

Casey has been in the automobile business for 34 years, and has worked with Joannides for 20 years.

Casey will buy the Halladay Auto Group, which includes Halladay Motors Cadillac Buick GMC, Halladay Nissan, Halladay Subaru, Halladay Motors Pre-Owned SuperCenter and the Halladay Paint and Collision Center.

Joannides and Casey have entered into a buy-sell agreement, according to a news release. The agreement will allow the transition to take place during three years, which is when Casey will have bought enough stock to complete the purchase.

“I will still be the president of the company until the purchase is completed, and then (Casey) will become the president,” Joannides said.

Then, Joannides may stay on as chairman of the board, although that has not yet been determined.

“Three years from now, I’ll be celebrating my 50th year in the automobile business. I figure that 50 years is probably enough,” said Joannides, who noted he will be 72 years old at that point. In three years, Halladay Motors will celebrate its 75th anniversary.

“I’m not going to retire, I’m going to refire,” Joannides said of his future. He said he will spend more time with family (including five grandchildren) and friends. He also plans to stay active in the community.

“My main focus is to continue to grow the Orthodox faith in the city,” he said. Joannides was active in the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cheyenne. He and his wife, Kathy, have helped establish the new Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church here.

“Tim has had offers to sell this to big dealer groups,” Casey said of the business. “He felt it was better for our employees and our community to keep it locally owned.”

Joannides thanked the company’s 110 employees during his speech. “They are the Halladay difference,” he said.

Casey said the company will consider expansion in the next few years. The company is going strong now and had its strongest August on record, he added.

The renovation project is “all about making it a nicer experience for our customers and employees,” Joannides said.

The current home of Halladay Motors Cadillac Buick GMC was a built in 1978. The expansion features a remodeled showroom that offers a new separate display area for the Cadillac line. The space features an indoor delivery area so that when people take delivery of a new or pre-owned car, there is a new area that keeps them out of the weather.

The dealership also has a new quiet service reception area and a new customer lounge.

Local contractors and subcontractors worked on the project. “It was done on time and in budget,” Joannides said. Edwards General Contractors of Cheyenne was the general contractor, and Pappas and Pappas was the architect.

“At the end of the day, I told my children and our employees that we all hope we have a legacy to leave,” Joannides said. “I don’t want my legacy to be all the cars and trucks we sold and the sales and service records we made. Hopefully, it’s the difference that myself and my family have made in this community and other parts of the country.”