Rock Island County IL.

[Farmall450]

Originally Posted by Sergeant

The owner of the AHW Elburn Property wanted AHW to Pay him for 20 years, Basically a retirement Plan, He wouldn't take a one-time payment for the dealership Property Like a normal real estate sale. So they just chose to move their People to Hampshire and Somonauk. It had nothing to do with the location; the previous JD dealer who owned the Property was very, very Greedy. He Basically wanted the sale Price Paid for rent each Year for 20 years.

Ralph Helm Jr, when He Bought RF Houtz, moved its Location out Into the Business district on the west side of Town. He had a driver who killed someone In an accident and was sued. Ralph Jr is Not the sole owner Of Ralph Helm anymore. He has Two Partners. He couldn't afford to Keep Elburn and Crystal Lake open because of the lawsuit, which again had nothing to do with the size of the Town either.

Buck Bros never Owned the Elburn Location. The did try to Buy it before AHW bought it. But again Elthers wanted to Much Money for it . Now it sites there as a Vacant Property . Buck also tried to Buy the Rockford dealership But he wanted them to Buy the ACE Hardware Next door to the Dealership as well

Buck Bros chose to Merge with AHW

Buck bros Locations Prior to Merger with AHW
Harvard
Hampshire
Libertyville
Wauconda

Rob Houtz sold in 2015 because he wanted to retire and with the earlier death of his son In Law Skip Nobody In the Family wanted to take over the dealership

Rob is still there In Elburn at the west end of South Street, where He runs his Cub Bone Yard. He's getting a 3208 I purchased from him ready for delivery next week for me. It had a Hydraulic Leak, and he's installing a 190-207-100 3-point hitch on the Tractor as well. That's the second used Tractor I have bought from him in the Last 3 years.

Rob's a good guy, I've had some peanuts and beer there and gotten parts from him.

That's too bad that the landowner forced their hand. I guess I'm surprised Buck was renting all along, and AHW must have decided they weren't going to fall for that.

[Farmall450]

Originally Posted by SS5150

Helm closed Crystal Lake didn't they? I thought I heard they were gone.

Has Buck Bros sold out, or are they associated with AHW?

Yes, quite a few years ago. It's too bad, but another member listed the reasons that I had also heard. Odd to me, seems more locations would generate more income to overcome money shortages.

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Farmall450

Rob's a good guy, I've had some peanuts and beer there and gotten parts from him.

That's too bad that the landowner forced their hand. I guess I'm surprised Buck was renting all along, and AHW must have decided they weren't going to fall for that.

Buck Bros Never controlled or had anything to do with the Elburn John Deere dealership!!!

The Only dealership property Buck Bros ever rented was the Harvard Location first from John Rebhorn and then a new Owner which AHW still rents the Location from

Buck Bros owned the following Locations that there dealerships sat On
Hampshire at Rt 20 & Rt47(main Office)
Libertyville 1080 E Park ave Route 176
Waconda 29626 N US Hwy 12
Buck Bros rented the dealership Property at 1810 N Division In Harvard

AHW Bought the dealership In Elburn from Elers or Ethlers(can't remember the spelling of there Name) except they rented the Property that the dealership sat On. Elers or Ethlers still owns the Property today. It was Elers or Ethlers that wanted that 20 year payoff

Buck Bros merged with AHW and AHW got 4 dealerships from the merger

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Farmall450

Yes, quite a few years ago. It's too bad, but another member listed the reasons that I had also heard. Odd to me, seems more locations would generate more income to overcome money shortages.

I believe Helm lost the lawsuit and the need to close down their other dealerships and take on other partners to stay a Float He had just Purchased the Elburn Location In early 2015, and the accident was In late summer 2017. Sometime after, I bought a Cub Cadet XT2 GX54 D from their Elburn location. I went there Next spring (2018), and it was gone. Crystal Lake was still open at that time. But closed sometime after 2018. I think he rented Both the Crystal Lake and Elburn dealership locations.