Koepp Chevrolet Inc. is a LA VERNIA Chevrolet dealer and a new car and used car LA VERNIA TX Chevrolet dealership

the History of Koepp Chevrolet Inc.

The Founding (1923)

In 1923, Ewald Otto Koepp founded Koepp Garage in LA VERNIA, TX. With the help of his father, a German immigrant and cotton farmer, he bought and repurposed an existing garage.

Koepp Garage stood on Old Chihuahua Road, an old cart road that connected central Mexico to Indianola on the Texas Coast. This trail supported the trade of silver and gold, the movement of army troops, and the immigration of Alsatian, German, Polish, and Irish families to Texas. With such an integral role in the economic and cultural development of Texas, this trail seems the perfect spot to inaugurate a legacy that would last a century.

The Early Years (1920s-1930s)

Though the automotive industry was experiencing tremendous growth, there was much left to learn. The Model T had been released a mere 15 years before the Koepp’s opened their doors. With an industry so new, dealers and technicians of that time were practically inventing the wheel.

The Koepp’s also faced a few challenges in setting up their shop: LA VERNIA was a very rural area, with no running water and electricity. There was, however, a 24-volt battery station in a building next door that generated power at the Garage. The Koepp’s also had a hand-dug well at their home across the street, from which they pumped fresh water into the dealership for the business to use.

At this time, Koepp Garage provided maintenance on vehicles, operated a single gas pump, and sold tires. Ewald Otto sold the then-popular Model T and Essex vehicles. He served as an associate dealer, selling vehicles to customers in LA VERNIA on behalf of a dealership in Floresville.

It wasn’t until the late 1920s that Ewald Otto became an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

In 1930, the Koepp’s constructed a new building at the same location using the same architect who constructed the LA VERNIA school buildings.

Surviving the Test of Time (1930s-1950s)

Over the past century, Koepp Chevrolet Inc. has weathered many storms.

A mere eight years after opening their doors, The Koepp’s faced the Great Depression. Not many people could afford new vehicles after the crash of the stock market, threatening the young dealership. In a collection of stories published by the LA VERNIA Historical Association, Jr. Koepp, Ewald O.’s son, remembered his father saying that if they could do $25 of business a day, the dealership could stay open. On top of that, he was very happy if he could sell one new car in a month.

Koepp Garage had little time to recover before the onslaught of the second World War, which severely limited the availability to sell vehicles and their parts to the public. Car manufacturers turned production to military equipment and weapons to help with the war effort, producing fewer vehicles and parts for dealers to sell.

In response, Ewald Otto began focusing on servicing vehicles rather than sales. An inner tube and tire vulcanizer allowed the technicians to repair tires and repurpose ones that had blown. On top of that, Jr. and his friends would drive around the county and collect iron, tires, and inner tubes that they could use for repairs at the garage.

It was by no accident that Koepp Garage was able to stay in business through these difficult times. By many accounts, Ewald Otto was a tenacious leader with a strong business sense: he did whatever he could to bring members of the community out to the dealership. He became a notary public, arranged to collect the poll tax, and performed state vehicle inspections to get people in the door.

Koepp’s staff also managed the bus stop located right in front of the Garage that brought passengers between LA VERNIA and San Antonio twice a day. The gas station and pay phone associated with the dealership were other popular spots at this location that members of the community could enjoy. Additionally, Ewald Otto built a playground nearby to allow children to play while parents did their weekly shopping on Chihuahua St. The dealership also hosted traveling shows that were popular during this period.

Additionally, the Koepp’s made the unveiling of new model years an exciting event for the community to enjoy. In these days, cars were delivered by train along the railroad that ran through LA VERNIA between Victoria and San Antonio. The delivery of these cars—often only one or two at a time—was quite the source of excitement, especially in times when vehicles were in very limited supply, like during WWII. When new model years were released, it became a tradition for the dealership to invite the community out to an unveiling event to explore what the new vehicles had to offer.

A Family Legacy (1960s-1990s)

In 1957, Koepp Garage moved to its present location at the corner of 775 and 87. A year later, the Koepp’s officially changed the name of their business to Koepp Chevrolet Inc.

During this period, Ewald Koepp Jr, Ewald Otto’s son, became the principal owner of the dealership. Though he had worked at the family business most of his life, Jr. did not take over for his father until 1969.

For the next 30 years or so, Jr. built upon his father’s legacy and carried the dealership through ups and downs.

In the 1970s, Jr. designed an iconic mascot for the dealership: Cappy the Catfish. He served as a beloved icon, partnered with the slogan “sail away in a Koepp Chevrolet Inc..” Cappy has made a comeback as the mascot for Koepp Chevrolet’s Centennial.

Three Generations (1990s-2020s)

As soon as he was old enough, Jr.’s son, Dwight, joined the family business. He started out as a parts salesman at 16 and eventually worked in every part of the dealership before he became the dealer operator.

Dwight took over the dealership from his father officially in 2003, though Jr. could often still be found in the showroom after his retirement. Dwight is now the Principal Dealer and Owner, carrying the family business into its 100th year.