CHICAGO — Ed Napleton Automotive Group has acquired Village Automotive, a Minneapolis-area group that includes Lexus of Wayzata and Maplewood as well as Village Chevrolet, a used-car store, and a collision-repair center, all located in Wayzata.

Village Automotive was owned by the Bloomer family since Village Chevrolet opened in 1950. Decades later, the group would claim one of America’s charter Lexus franchises; the Wayzata and Maplewood stores are the only Lexus dealerships in Minnesota.

“After 70 years in the auto dealership business, our family’s decision to sell was a difficult one,” said Steve Bloomer, president and CEO of Village Automotive Group. “We are happy to see Village Automotive Group transition to another family-owned dealership group who will continue our customer service and employee-focused legacy.”

Last year, Chicago-based Ed Napleton ranked No. 26 on Automotive News’ list of the nation’s biggest dealer groups with 74 franchises in seven states. Kerrigan Advisors represented Village Automotive Group in the transaction.

“Two things were clear when we were engaged by Steve Bloomer and Steve Bennett: the importance of selling to a buyer who would continue the Village Automotive Group’s extraordinary record of top customer service and the need for a transaction process that would do justice to the Bloomer family’s 70-year legacy in the automotive retail industry,” said Erin Kerrigan, founder and managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, referring to longtime Village Automotive executive Steve Bennett. “We are pleased that we found a buyer with a deep family legacy in the auto dealership business.”