On April 1, 1973, Rentschler Chrysler-Plymouth opened its doors in the former Bryfogle Chrysler-Plymouth dealership.

Fifty years and a couple days later on April 3, 2023, the Rentschler family is not only celebrating five decades in business, but also the groundbreaking of a $2.5 million expansion of garage services and renovation of the showroom.

Greg Rentschler, the grandson of the founder Frederick Rentschler, said the number one reason for the expansion is because they had to make appointments for vehicle services too far out.

“People are accustomed to waiting for good quality service, but four weeks is still too long,” Rentschler said.

The expansion includes a 9,000-square-foot service garage that will branch out into the parking lot behind the dealership on North Walnut Street in Slatington.

Currently, they have two shops with eight bays. The expansion will combine the shops and increase the number of bays to 13.

The new facility will also enable technicians to lift heavier trucks, increase efficiency, and provide better service, Rentschler said.

Rentschler co-owns the dealership with his father, Frederick W. Rentschler, and his uncle, Richard Rentschler. Their father, Frederick Rentschler, bought the dealership in 1973 from Granville F. Bryfogle.

Frederick W. began working with his dad not long after, and by 1981, he and his father and brother, purchased the Mueller Chevrolet dealership next door. They combined the businesses, and formed Rentschler Chevrolet.

The original Frederick passed away in 2006, but his sons continued the business. Since bringing in the third generation, Frederick W. or Fred, as he prefers to be called, is easing into retirement.

“When we started here in 1973, within a 10-mile radius, we counted 20 competitors,” Fred Rentschler said.

Today, that number has dropped to two dealerships in Lehighton, in addition to their dealership.

“We cover a big area not only the Upper Lehigh Valley, but also the Lower Carbon County and Monroe County and a little bit of Schuylkill County,” he said.

Over that 50 years, the dealership has sold more than 50,000 cars, trucks and vans, Fred Rentschler said.

“The young generation is doing a great job,” he said.

As for the expansion and renovation, Fred Rentschler said, “We realized that we really couldn’t hire more techs until we have the renovation done.”

Greg Rentschler said the front of the building will remain the same, but the inside will change significantly. It’s a bit of a “trickle back effect,” he said.

Because of the expansion, everything from the front back will get larger. The showroom and lounge will expand, and the parts department will become two stories. The old shop will become a service drive for people to bring in their car for service, and those buying a new car can pick it up there and drive out.

“The most fun about the job is seeing people take their new cars home,” Greg Rentschler said.

The showroom will change significantly.

“We’re doing a Jeep alternate showroom,” he said.

One side will be dedicated to Jeeps, and the other to Chrysler, Dodge and Ram vehicles.

“It’s kind of like you’re in two different buildings all within the same one,” Greg Rentschler said.

A wood beam entranceway will divide the two showrooms. One side will be a cherry oak color and the other amber with black accents, he said. In the artist’s rendering, an outdoor scene covers a wall providing a backdrop on the Jeep side.

Behind the new service center, there will be superchargers for electric vehicles, Greg Rentschler said. The dealership will begin carrying battery electric vehicles in the next 18 months. They can go anywhere from 300 to 500 miles between charges, depending on the model.

“Most of (the technicians) are hybrid trained right now,” he said. “And they are all going through the start of the full BEV products.”

Gas vehicles will still be available though, Greg Rentschler said.

The renovation design was handled by Pany and Lentz Engineering Co. in Allentown. Pencor Construction in Palmerton, which handled a renovation in 2012, will once again serve as the general contractor. And Livengood Excavators Inc. in Berlinsville is doing the excavation work.

Fred Rentschler said he’s very happy the dealership is able to work with the borough of Slatington so that they could stay and expand.

“We’re dedicated to staying in these two locations,” he said. “They were wanting to retain us.”

By staying in the borough, the business has access to police and fire coverage, as well as water and sewer.

“Those are all big things that are very costly if you’re forced to go to a blank slate to start all over again,” Fred Rentschler said.

The dealership plans to continue business as usual through the construction.

“We’ll have the ‘Pardon Our Mess’ signs up, but we’ll still be open,” Fred Rentschler said. “We’ll still be here.”

The renovation and expansion should be completed by Christmas.