ELKHART -- The economic recession turned many recreational vehicle retail stores into vacant lots and left just four dealers in the RV Capital of the World.
On Monday, however, the number of dealerships rose to five as the former Michiana RV on Cassopolis Street reopened as Campers Inn of Elkhart.
"We are looking for this to be one of the top Campers Inn stores," said Scott Hayden, operations manager.
Established in 1966, Campers Inn has dealerships on the East Coast with two in New Hampshire and one each in Massachusetts, Georgia and Florida. Although these stores sell brands from a variety of makers, the Elkhart location will exclusively stock Forest River units, namely the full line of Coachmen products from folding tent campers to motorhomes.
Michiana RV was a factory dealership, owned by Coachmen and selling only Coachmen brands. Despite Campers Inn single-manufacturer inventory, Hayden clarified the dealership is not owned by Forest River.
"We just wanted to have a strong alliance with Forest River," he said. "We like what they're doing."
The empty showroom floor is expected to be filled by next week and parts of the service department are on the way. The dealership already has used units for sale and has hired four former employees of Michiana RV, with plans to hire another six.