Van Gorder teams with Tim Lamb Group for expansion

Rapidly expanding auto dealer plans Washington Court House presence

By Thomas Gnau Dayton Daily News October 16, 2019

Steve Van Gorder is planning new auto dealerships in Washington Court House, he said in a LinkedIn message this week.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday) I’m signing for a Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and a separate Toyota dealership, all in Washington Court House,” Van Gorder said in a message. “With the addition of these three dealerships, SVG is the most diverse dealer in Dayton with 11 new franchise dealerships. All in five years.”

Van Gorder has been expanding aggressively for some time. In 2018, he bought land for what became his Beavercreek store, his fifth location at 3415 Seajay Drive.

He has lived in Greene County for more than 25 years, and the Beavercreek location effectively has his dealerships surrounding the city of Dayton. A presence in Washington Court House, about 50 miles southeast of Dayton, puts him closer to central Ohio, too.

SVG Motors also has dealerships in Dayton at 400 Shoup Mill Road, as well as Eaton, Urbana and Greenville.

“I call it home,” Van Gorder told the Dayton Daily News in February 2018.

Since May 2014, Van Gorder’s acquisitions have grown from a single used car dealership.

A familiar presence from numerous TV commercials, Van Gorder worked for Jeff Schmitt Autogroup for three years until December 2013.

Washington Court House is located in Fayette County, about an hour’s drive southeast from Dayton.