Hyatt Buick GMC Inventory: A Look Back at a Historic Automobile Dealership

The old automobile dealership building on Main Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, has a rich history that spans decades. Once home to Jim Bishop Chevrolet and later Coad Chevrolet, the structure has undergone several transformations over the years. Today, it serves as a family counseling facility, but its past is marked by the iconic Van Matre name.

In 1986, a devastating flash flood ruined the inventory of cars and pickups at the dealership, which was then owned by Tim Coad. The advertisements featured Co-owner Tim Coad, who enthusiastically promoted the 'Coad of the Road' slogan. Later, the dealership changed its name to Coad Chevrolet, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its history.

My family has a personal connection to this building, as my uncle purchased his 1976 Monte Carlo and possibly his 1979 Chevrolet Scottsdale pickup from here. My maternal grandparents also bought their 1977 Chevrolet Impala from Jim Bishop Chevrolet when it was still operating at this location.

The old Chevrolet dealership building is strategically located next door to the Cape Girardeau Police Department, which has made it less appealing to juvenile delinquents and other miscreants. However, upon closer inspection, the structure has been converted into a family counseling facility, bearing the Van Matre name.

At some point in its history, the dealership took on Cadillac and GMC inventory, although it is unclear when this occurred. The current Cadillac-Buick-GMC dealership is now located elsewhere, leaving the old building to find new uses. So, what can be done with an old automobile dealership building?

In recent years, I had the opportunity to revisit my birthplace of Cape Girardeau and capture how various dealerships from my childhood looked in 2016. The old Van Matre Buick building is a testament to the changing landscape of the automotive industry and the adaptability of local businesses.

Today, the Hyatt Buick GMC inventory has moved on, but its legacy lives on in the historic building that once housed it. As we look back at the past, we can appreciate the evolution of this iconic dealership and the people who made it a staple of the community.

Hyatt buick gmc inventory