Why Waikem?

The Waikem Auto Family has been in the community for 57 years, helping our neighbors find a car since 1954, when George E. Waikem, Sr. sold the first vehicle on our Stark County lot.
Mr. Waikem's founding principle of complete customer satisfaction still stands today, as we've grown to seven new car franchises plus more than 500 pre-owned vehicles. The right car is waiting here for you.
The Waikem name is still the backbone of the dealership. George's sons and grandsons now oversee the Waikem Auto Family, ensuring that Mr. Waikem's vision of success is still the top priority. Our management team has more than 200 combined years at the Waikem Auto Family. The majority of the team got their start by working on the showroom floor and worked their way to the top through hard work and customer service dedication.
We are proud to say we are still ahead of the competitors. Waikem was one of the first dealers in the country to see the importance of the Internet back in the 1990s, and today we are proud to boast one of the most user friendly sites on the web, www.waikem.com. Don't forget to make Waikem Auto Family a friend on Facebook, and have fun following us on Twitter, @WaikemAuto.

We are thankful for our loyal customers who recommend Waikem because of our fair and helpful salespeople, reliable and trustworthy service and overall friendly staff.

 

 

Customer service was always in George’s blood. At age 13, he began purchasing bikes from junkyards and selling them to friends. George Waikem's business prestige and care for his customers was shaped during World War II. He served as a pilot during the war but sold cars in San Antonio, Texas, while training to become a pilot with the Army Air Corps.
Three years after opening the first dealership, George Waikem opened his first new-car franchise, George Waikem Ford Inc., in 1957. George Sr. proudly sold and financed cars and trucks to steel workers. He worked 24/7 to accommodate shift changes at the steel mills.
The Waikem Auto Family continued to grow and grow, and George instilled his customer-oriented values in his children. They took Waikem to the next level in auto sales while building life-long relationship with generations of customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Waikem Auto Family is proud to be a part of this community. Dave Waikem sits on boards including: Perry Township Rotary Club, Stark County Library Foundation, Affinity Community Advisory Board, Stark State College Business Advisory Board and Friends of the Stark Parks. Dave Waikem was a previous chairman of Perry Township Police Levies and just joined the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors for 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Waikem has been in the business since the early 1970s, and he will proudly tell you he was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Dealer Magazine for his ability to see into the future and build an Internet department before most of his competitors even knew what the Internet was. Today, Waikem continues to be ahead of the market. Go to waikem.com now, receive a quote, get approved, and have your next new car within a few hours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chip Waikem is the oldest of George's three sons working at Waikem Auto Family. He orchestrated the purchase of 13 franchises that were the building blocks of the Waikem Auto Family's growth. He was also instrumental in building Oscar's Towing for the Waikem Auto Family. What was just one tow truck is a now a whole fleet. He has been on the cover of National Automobile Dealers Association's AutoExec magazine for his ability to get cars off his lots and into the hands of his customers. Chip was also a member of the National Guard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Waikem recently caught a 5.8 pound smallmouth bass during an X-Series tournament on Chautauqua Lake, NY. We are proud to say we sell cars and build customer relations in every state and overseas thanks to our cutting-edge website, www.waikem.com

 

 

 

 

 

George Waikem Sr.'s favorite hobby was playing golf with his three sons. When he wasn't teaching them a lesson on the greens, he was teaching them the fine points of a successful business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Waikem, Sr. is pictured here with his grandsons Chris Waikem, Craig Waikem, and George Waikem Jr. during one of our many expansions. The thirds generation of Waikem boys now play a vital role in the ever-expanding Waikem Auto Family.

We're proud to say we are continuing to grow in the community, just as we have for more than a half century. We're proud say we've stayed ahead curve through 57 years of changes and challenges, and we are ready to discuss your next vehicle purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our salespeople understand that buying a car is one of the most important decisions you will make, and we are ready to continue the proud tradition we started on the historic Lincoln Highway back in 1954. We believe that everyone should be treated like a guest in our home. So browse around, find your next car and contact our representatives who are ready to schedule you an appointment.