by Dennis Dalman
St. Cloud Toyota recently announced it has acquired “twin” St. Joseph businesses and will merge with them soon.
The St. Joseph businesses are Bee Line Yamaha & Suzuki Sports Center and Bee Line Service Center.
St. Cloud Toyota is actually in Waite Park – at 418 Second St. S. The merged companies will be renamed to Bee Line Auto & Sport in St. Joseph, but St. Cloud Toyota will continue as a separate entity.
St. Cloud Toyota has been a family-owned business since 1967 and sells new Toyota cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, as well as used ones. It also has a parts-and-service center called Waite Park Auto. Its general manager is Tom Findley.
The Bee Line Yamaha & Suzuki Sports Center and Bee Line Service Center in St. Joseph is located at 8805 Ridgewood Court. That business is a Yamaha and Star Motorcycle dealer that offers motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, side-by-sides and more. It serves a very large area of central Minnesota and beyond.
The Bee Line Service Center specializes in trailer sales, trailer repairs, trailer customizing and race-car trailers. It also sells a wide variety of vehicle tires. Its auto service and auto repair include brake work, alignments, oil changes and transmission maintenance.
Bee Line Garage started in 1928 in St. Cloud. It moved to St. Joseph in 1993, was then expanded under a longer name and is owned by Duan and Dani Westra, who bought the company in 1995.
St. Cloud Toyota recently purchased Bee Line Sports Center and Auto Service in St. Joseph, which has been renamed Bee Line Auto and Sport. Current team members include the following (left to right) Chris Vance, general sales manager; Ben Becker, service and parts director; Duan Westra, Bee Line Service Center; Mitch Evens, sales and business manager; Dani Westra. Bee Line Yamaha and Suzuki Sports Center; Tom Findley, general manager; and Lori Heinz, service manager. Bee Line has been in business for 97 years and is third generation. The team plans to stay on
to ensure a smooth transition. Dani & Duan Westra: “We are excited a locally owned company with a successful business record who genuinely cares about this community will be taking over. We know are customers will be in good hands and we look forward to seeing it grow.”
The exterior of St. Cloud Toyota in Waite Park.
