OK Chevrolet fulfills lifelong dream for new owner

Lance Knopp, the new owner of OK Chevrolet in Tonasket. Katie Teachout/staff photo
Lance Knopp, the new owner of OK Chevrolet in Tonasket. Katie Teachout/staff photo

TONASKET – OK Chevrolet has been purchased by Lance Knopp of Oregon. Knopp spent the past two years running a large Chevrolet Dealership in San Antonio before moving to the area in March with his wife Kortney.

“My dream has always been to own my own Chevrolet Dealership since I was a kid,” said Knopp, who grew up in La Grande and moved to Portland after high school, where he worked for a Chevrolet store for several years. “I have been a Chevy fan all my life. I used to hang out at the Chevrolet dealership in La Grande every day after school from sixth grade on, and I have done nothing but sell Chevrolets.”

Knopp worked in a variety of roles for Chevrolet dealerships over the past 14 years, from being the top sales person, sales manager, internet manager to General Sales Manager.

“When the opportunity came, I couldn’t think of a better place to move and own and run a Chevrolet dealership,” said Knopp. “OK Chevrolet has been in the community for over 30 years and has a rich history here in Tonasket.”

Knopp said a Grand Re-opening is planned for the near future.

“It will tie in with some discounts on cars, along with a BBQ here at the dealership and a ‘meet and greet’ with my wife and I and the whole staff here at OK Chevrolet,” said Knopp.

OK Chevrolet sells new cars and trucks along with pre-owned vehicles of all makes and models.

“If we don’t have what you are looking for we will go find it for you,” said Knopp. “We also offer a full service department, detail, rental cars and offer the sale of tires from your replacements to studded snow tires.”

Knopp said he plans to offer free delivery of vehicles in Washington state.

“We want to attract customers from the larger cities who want to have the hometown low pressure, transparent buying experience we offer here at OK Chevrolet,” said Knopp. “I am very big on customer service and customer experience. We want to make it as fun to buy a new car as it should be.”

Knopp said as a ‘hands on’ owner he will be in the store everyday, and wants to invest in his new community.

“I plan to attend many local events and continue to support the schools and other organizations that we have sponsored in the past,” said Knopp. “I also want to offer a car buying experience that you will not get anywhere else and be competitive on pricing to keep customers buying local.”

Knopp said he was working on growing the inventory, with plans to remodel the current showroom and service area to offer a larger service area and showroom for customers.

“We will want to use local contractors to do that,” said Knopp.

Knopp and his wife Kortney have a chihuahua named Daisy.

“We do plan on starting a family, and like the reputation that the schools have here in the area, and that was one of the things that interested us in this area,” Knopp said.