Public Service Garage, 919 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, is pictured. The dealership will be soon sold to Marthaler, a Minnesota-based company which services a larger market. (Journal photo by Jaymie Depew)

MARQUETTE — Public Service Garage — a family-owned business of nearly 90 years — will change ownership within the next several weeks.

John Veiht, current owner of the new and used vehicle dealership along Baraga Avenue in Marquette, said the business will be sold to Marthaler Automotive, a Minnesota-based company which serves a larger market.

So, why the change?

Veiht, who’ll be 67 in the spring, said an ever-changing retail landscape and his age are the main reasons.

“Changing retail landscape says ‘bigger is better,'” Veiht said. Although it’s “a little hard to let go as a family,” he said the change is a plus for everybody.

Marthaler representatives met with Public Service Garage employees Wednesday.

“Everybody here has been offered a job,” Veiht said. “Marthaler wants to keep what we did right: our good standing in the community, our community involvement, our employees. It’s a great fit because they’re very similar to us.”

The dealership will change names to Marthaler Buick, GMC, Cadillac of Marquette and aims to expand services, the body shop and sales, Veiht said.

“The change will take place at the end of the month, maybe early December. That’s when I stop and they start,” he added.

Public Service Garage has been working alongside General Motors to help determine which company would be best suited to take ownership of the business.

“These folks are really involved in the community and that’s what we love about them,” Veiht said. “GM has been very helpful in the process.”

Marthaler currently operates eight stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, and services GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford vehicles. It’ll also retain Cadillac once the sale of Public Service Garage is finalized.

Aaron Marthaler, owner of Marthaler Automotive, said more details will emerge soon.

“Marthaler Automotive looks forward to continuing the 89 year legacy that John & the Public Service Garage team have created in Marquette,” Marthaler said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks.”

Public Service Garage was originally started by Veiht’s grandfather as the only company in the Upper Peninsula that could fix agricultural equipment.

“It started with the ‘public service’ name because there was nobody up here to fix farming equipment after World War I,” Veiht said, adding that the company first retained an Oldsmobile franchise when GM moved into town the following year.

“I personally would like to thank this community for a wonderful 89 years and all of the community’s support for us, and all of my absolutely phenomenal employees,” Veiht said. “This is an excellent group. It’s my family. That’s what makes us a little more — and even though it’s a change, it’s a change for the better.”

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.