Claude Nolan Cadillac, launched Downtown in 1905 by the son of former Jacksonville Mayor George Nolan, is now in new hands.
Randy Marion Cadillac of Jacksonville LLC bought the Claude Nolan Cadillac dealership and property May 25 along Southside Boulevard, where the dealership moved in 1985.
That comes about three weeks after Mooresvillle, North Carolina-based Randy Marion Cadillac posted on Facebook May 3 that it bought “Claude Nolan Cadillac, who has represented the Jacksonville area for the past 100 years.”
Jacksonville is the first dealership outside North Carolina for Randy Marion Automotive Group.
General Manager Shawn Spencer, Marion’s nephew, said the sale closed May 2.
“It has been a dream of his,” Spencer said June 2.
Spencer said Marion owns a Ponte Vedra Beach home and has been visiting for 35 to 40 years.
“He has always wanted to own a stand-alone Cadillac store in the state of Florida.”
Spencer said the opportunity to buy Claude Nolan Cadillac “was brought to his attention” so a meeting was arranged.
Spencer said Claude Nolan Cadillac owners Jack Helmick and his son, Marc Helmick, met with Marion.
“And they interviewed Randy and wanted to make sure Randy was fit to continue on their legacy,” Spencer said.
Marion said Claude Nolan Cadillac was a family-owned business for more than 100 years.
“We are a family-owned business as well,” Spencer said.
He said Marion had become familiar with the area after bringing a management group to visit.
“Randy fell in love with it,” he said. “The goal is to spend even more time here.”
Spencer, 46, is relocating his family to Jacksonville and said he looked forward to “be a part of the community and to grow in the community.”
Spencer said several Marion family members are in key roles throughout the organization, which has 16 dealerships.
The property
Randy Marion Cadillac has put a banner up on the 4700 Southside Blvd. dealership and set up a website for the business.
Duval County Clerk of Courts records show Randy Marion Cadillac paid $13.75 million for the property, buying it from 4616 Corp.
Ally Bank issued a mortgage of $11.825 million the same day. Randy Marion Cadillac of Jacksonville President Randall L. Marion signed the mortgage.
The property seller, 4616 Corp., is led by President John Helmick Jr., Marc Helmick and Gayla Poythress.
The company bought the site in 1984 and developed the dealership property. They formed 4616 Corp. that year.
The Helmicks and Poythress also are the officers of Claude Nolan Cadillac Inc. State records show Claude Nolan Cadillac-Oldsmobile Inc. was formed in 1977 at 4700 Southside Blvd. It was led by the Helmicks, Claudette Brown Helmick and Thomas Love.
The corporate name was shortened to Claude Nolan Cadillac Inc. in 2002.
Duval County property records show the 7.5-acre property comprises seven buildings totaling at least 48,865 square feet.
The sales and showroom and service garage were develop in 1985. Other smaller buildings, including a car wash, were built between 1995 and 2001.
Spencer said a permanent sign is on the way.
The dealership
The website says the sales department staff is led by Spencer.
His LinkedIn page shows he has been vice president and Jacksonville general manager since April.
Before that, he was pre-owned sales manager and finance manager with Randy Marion Chevy Buick Cadillac in Mooresville.
Spencer said he replaced Marc Helmick as general manager and Helmick retired.
Spencer said Randy Marion Cadillac kept Claude Nolan’s 59 employees, other than one retirement June 2 that had been determined before the takeover.
“We kept everyone and that is how we do buy-sells,” Spencer said.
“That’s how Randy does it. He wants everyone to stay.”
The site specifies that several staff members have been with Claude Nolan, and a look at the Claude Nolan site that remains up confirms that, including New Sales Manager Josh Lauderman, Business Manager Pete Riera, Pre-Owned Sales Manager Arturio Anadio, Service Manager Eddie Weisen, Assistant Service Manager Mary Baddock and Service Lane Manager John Barrett.
Randy Marion Automotive Group
The RandyMarion.com site says “Randy Marion is now in Florida!”
The randymarioncadillacofjacksonville.com site says Randy Marion Cadillac of Jacksonville is “a premier new & used Cadillac dealer in Jacksonville.”
“Randy Marion Cadillac of Jacksonville in JACKSONVILLE offers a wide variety of new, pre-owned and certified pre-owned vehicles also serving Cadillac drivers.”
It describes Randy Marion Automotive Group as one of the largest car dealerships in the Carolinas. It started in 1990.
“Nestled just North of Charlotte, NC, in the Lake Norman area, our dealerships have all the vehicles that you need.”
It shows 16 dealerships in Mooresville, Huntersville, Statesville, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro, Hickory and Salisbury. Brands include Chevrolet, Buick, Isuzu, Subaru, GMC, Ford, Lincoln, Kia, Honda and Jeep Dodge Ram.
It also has an accessory center in Mooresville and the Sav-A-Lot used car center in Hickory.
Along with the Jacksonville Cadillac dealership, it has a Cadillac dealership in Mooresville.
About Claude Nolan Cadillac
ClaudeNolanCadillac.com says Claude Nolan Cadillac has been in business for more than 100 years, starting back in 1905.
“That was the year Claude Nolan opened his Cadillac dealership in Jacksonville and the rest is history. That long legacy is the basis for our corporate theme line, 'Building lasting relationships since 1905.'”
According to AbandonedSoutheast.com and online research, Claude Nolan had no children. After he died in 1943 at the age of 58, his family continued to operate the business.
Jack Helmick’s wife, Claudette, was the daughter of Claude Nolan’s niece.
The site said Jack Helmick joined Claude Nolan Cadillac in 1965 and later bought the franchise location in Jacksonville.
According to Florida State College at Jacksonville, the Claude Nolan Cadillac building Downtown at 937 N. Main Street was one of the earliest car dealerships in Jacksonville.
Built in 1911-12, it was designed by architect Henry J. Klutho in the Prairie style. The facade was redesigned in 1948 by W.A. Moore Jr.
Klutho helped in the reconstruction of Jacksonville after the Great Fire of 1901 destroyed Downtown. Among his works are the St. James Building, now City Hall, and the Porter House Mansion.
According to the Jacksonville Historical Society, Claude Nolan opened the dealership in 1905 on East Church Street. After moving into the North Main Street building the dealership remained at that Downtown location until moving to Southside Boulevard in 1985.
Shoppes of Eastside LLC, led by Chris Hionides, sold the Claude Nolan building Dec. 5 for $1.825 million to Ollivanders Downtown LLC, in care of Contega Business Services LLC.