Manhattan Beach Toyota Now Family Owned
John Elway (middle) and Darrell Sperber (first from right), the dealership’s current owner and general manager, at an event at the dealership on Sept. 4, 2008. Photo by Lee Craft
Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway has sold his share of Manhattan Beach Toyota. The dealership, formerly known as John Elway’s Manhattan Beach Toyota, now simply goes by Manhattan Beach Toyota Scion.
Darrell Sperber, who since 2007 co-owned the dealership with Elway, Mitchell Pierce and Jerry Williams, said he recently bought out all their shares. Sperber is now the sole owner of the dealership.
“I had a contract with [the other partners] that I could purchase their shares after five years, and I exercised that option,” said Sperber, who currently acts as the general manager.
Sperber said he thinks John Elway’s affiliation with the dealership was helpful as far as branding is concerned, but he would like to proceed growing the dealership as a “family business.” Elway was “primarily an investor” and “has a lot of other business interests,” he added.
“Our reputation in the community is the most important thing,” Sperber said. “And I think that reputation is based on taking care of our customers.”
Another looming change is the remodeling of the dealership’s showroom, expected later this year or early next year, he said.
Last January, the dealership came under national scrutiny when Timothy Sandquist, a former sales manager at the dealership, sued Elway and Sperber as well as the two other partners, alleging racial discrimination.
Elway currently owns a Toyota dealership in Ontario, CA, a Chevrolet dealership in Englewood, CO, a Chrysler Jeep dealership in Greeley, CO, and a Chevrolet dealership in Denver, CO.
Related: John Elway’s Manhattan Beach Toyota faces discrimination suit