Planet Hyundai to be sold
John Staluppi Jr., owner of Planet Hyundai, once the biggest seller of the Korean brand in the United States, has agreed to sell the store to an unidentified buyer, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Ken Rubino, a spokesman for the dealership at 7150 W. Sahara Ave., confirmed the sale. Rubino didn't disclose the name of the buyer or the terms of the deal.
The owner is the son of John Staluppi Sr., who operated the dominant new-car dealership chain in New York, said Frank Maione, a cousin of the Las Vegas dealer and owner of the Henderson Hyundai Super Store.
"I was the original general manager and a partner of Planet Hyundai," Maione said.
Maione moved to Las Vegas in 2001. The dealership was successful, and John Staluppi Jr. came the following year, he said. John Staluppi Jr. later bought out Maione.
"We are very close friends," Maione said. "We have a good competitive rivalry."
Planet Hyundai led the country in new-Hyundai sales for six years ending in 2008, Rubino said.
"It made the rest of us look like we were stuck in low gear," said Jim Marsh, owner of the similarly named Kia, Mitsubishi and Suzuki dealership.
"They had a good reputation," Marsh said. "They were always aggressive."
John Staluppi Jr. also owns Centennial Buick GMC, Planet Nissan, Henderson Nissan and Acura of Las Vegas. Maione said he expects his cousin to continue operating and growing those dealerships.
Staluppi also sells motorcycles and snowmobiles at Duck Creek Village and Cedar City in Southern Utah.
Attempts to reach the Planet Hyundai owner and his general manager failed Wednesday.
Contact reporter John G. Edwards at jedwards@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0420.
