AutoNation’s already formidable presence in the Denver market has grown again.

The nationwide auto retailer said it has acquired Groove Ford and Groove Mazda in suburban Englewood, Colo., from Summit Automotive Partners.

With the new additions, AutoNation now operates 22 locations in Colorado, mostly concentrated in the Denver metro area. The new stores are the AutoNation’s first for those brands in the state.

The dealerships, which have been rebranded as AutoNation Ford Arapahoe and AutoNation Mazda Arapahoe, sold nearly 5,000 new and used vehicles last year, the company said, generating some $219 million in annual revenue.

“These acquisitions build on our strategy to add density into markets where we already have a presence,” AutoNation CEO Mike Manley said in a news release. “It allows us to rapidly bring significant scale synergies to the new dealerships, expanding on the current success of the stores and delivering strong returns to our shareholders.”

The stores were the last of Summit’s Groove Auto dealerships in Colorado, concluding its selloff of the group.

Late last year, Summit sold Groove Honda in Colorado Springs to Corwin Auto Group and Groove Toyota in Englewood to Larry Van Tuyl’s Visionary Automotive Group. In January, Van Tuyl doubled down, acquiring Groove Subaru in Denver.

Summit, based in Englewood, now operates nine dealership locations. Only one is in Colorado – H. M. Brown & Associates, an auto sales and leasing brokerage firm. Berlin City Auto Group operates in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, and Vista Auto has two stores in Casper, Wyo.

Corwin moves into Minnesota

Corwin Automotive Group now has its first dealership in Minnesota, though it’s not far from home.

The Fargo, N.D.-based group has acquired Muscatell Subaru in Moorhead, Minn. — just across the Red River from Fargo — from Ward Muscatell, according to Performance Brokerage Services, which brokered the transaction.

Corwin now operates 19 dealerships in Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota and Washington.

The Muscatell family continues to operate Muscatell Burns Ford in Hawley, Minn.

Muscatell Subaru, founded in 1996, will be renamed Corwin Subaru.

Golling adds Detroit CDJR dealership

Golling Automotive Group has acquired Ray Laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Detroit from Jeff Laethem, according to Performance Brokerage Services, which represented the seller in the deal.

The dealership has been renamed Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Grosse Pointe.

Golling Automotive Group, which operates eight dealerships in Michigan, was founded in 1966 by A. William Golling Jr., whose son Bill Golling is now the company’s president.

Laethem, son of the dealership’s founder, Ray Laethem, remains as president of Ray Laethem Buick GMC in Detroit.

Riser family sells Hot Springs store to Crain, Campbell

Chris Crain and Heath Campbell have acquired Riser Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT in Hot Springs, Ark., from the Riser family, according to Haig Partners, which represented the seller.

Haig said Crain and Campbell, are “well-known and respected dealership operators in Arkansas,” and are well-acquainted with the Riser family, who have been in auto retail for 30 years.

Paul Riser said Crain and Campbell are “individuals we’ve known and respected for years. We’re confident the dealership will continue to thrive under their leadership.”

Crain thanked the Risers “for entrusting us with this dealership. The Riser name carries a legacy of excellence in Hot Springs, and we look forward to building on that foundation while continuing to serve this great community.”

For more analysis on the dealership buy-sell market, check out this panel at next week’s Auto Intel Summit in Cary, N.C.