Kerrigan Advisors Represents Plaza Ford in Sale to Bob Bell Automotive Group

Sale of historic Ford dealership marks Kerrigan Advisors’ 327^th dealership sold since 2015 and 51^st Mid-Atlantic franchise transaction.

BALTIMORE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide, represented the Walls Family in the sale of Plaza Ford to Bob Bell Automotive Group. The sale of the Bel Air, Maryland dealership marks Kerrigan Advisors’ 327^th dealership sold since the firm’s inception and its 51^st Mid-Atlantic franchise transaction. Notably, Kerrigan Advisors has transacted on the sale of more than $3 billion in dealership revenue across 13 states over the last 12 months.

Plaza Ford was founded in 1933, and Ralph Walls started working as bookkeeper of the dealership in 1947 and rose to general manager in 1959. He eventually became an owner in 1962, and was recognized as Maryland’s TIME Dealer of the Year in 1992. Ralph, alongside his wife, Betty, and two sons, Tom and Charlie, built a multi-decade family legacy in one of Maryland’s most attractive auto markets. Over the years, the family developed Plaza Ford into a flagship operation on Bel Air’s premier auto retail corridor, investing in a 24.5-acre site with prime visibility along Belair Road.

“Kerrigan Advisors exceeded our expectations. Their proven track record in the Mid-Atlantic meant they were able to identify the most motivated and well-suited buyer for our dealership. They guided our family with care through every step of the sale of our multi-generation family-owned business.” said Tom Walls, co-owner of Plaza Ford. “Their expertise gave us complete confidence throughout the entire sale, and we could not be more pleased with our transaction’s outcome.”

“Our family is proud of the legacy our team has built at Plaza Ford, and we are excited about the growth opportunities this transition creates for our employees,” continued Walls. “Joining a multi-franchise group like Bob Bell Automotive Group opens meaningful new doors for the people who have been at the heart of this dealership for decades. We are excited for our employees and their next chapter with Bob Bell.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to represent the Walls family in this significant transaction,” said Gabe Robleto, Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “The dealership’s position in the center of the Mid-Atlantic region, combined with Ford’s standing as a top domestic franchise in the US, made Plaza Ford an extraordinarily compelling opportunity for the Bob Bell Automotive Group. We congratulate the Walls Family on an exceptional outcome and a well-deserved retirement after decades of family ownership and dedication to one of Maryland’s most enduring automotive businesses.”

Bob Bell Automotive Group, led by J.P. Bishop, is one of Maryland’s leading private dealership groups, operating six dealerships, including one Ford, two Chevrolet, one Hyundai, one Kia and one Nissan, across Baltimore, Glen Burnie and Bel Air. Plaza Ford becomes the group’s seventh rooftop, deepening its Ford presence and expanding its footprint in high-growth Hartford County.

“We congratulate J.P. Bishop and the Bob Bell Automotive Group on a strategic acquisition that further strengthens their Maryland portfolio and foothold in the Bel Air market,” added Robleto. “We are also grateful for the legal advisory work of Barrie Charapp Beaty of Charapp & Weiss, whose expertise was invaluable to our client throughout this transaction.”

This transaction demonstrates the attractiveness of a premier domestic franchise in a growing market in today’s buy/sell market. Ford stands as the top domestic franchise in the US, leading its peers in market share, franchise sales performance and overall brand strength – anchored by the iconic F-series, the best-selling truck in America for 48 consecutive years. With US light vehicle sales up 6.4% in 2025, Ford’s growth rate nearly tripled the industry average and also outpaced both Chevrolet and CDJR. With 77% of its vehicles assembled in the US, Ford is uniquely positioned among domestic brands to benefit from the Trump administration’s “Made in America” policies, resulting in significantly reduced tariff exposure relative to its competitors.

Harford County is home to more than 265,000 residents with median household incomes of $107,000 – 34% above the US average – and its population is projected to grow 11% to nearly 294,000 by 2045. With only two Ford points in Harford County, representing a population-per-Ford franchise of approximately 133,000 (50% higher than competing domestic brands), Ford holds a distinct advantage in the market. And Bel Air Auto Row, where Plaza Ford is located, is a high-volume non-luxury corridor, commanding 96% of non-luxury market share – 17% above the US average.

“This transaction is a perfect example of the momentum we are seeing in the buy/sell market and the trends highlighted in our most recent Blue Sky Report^®,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “Today’s growing dealers are moving from playing checkers to chess – making precise, market-driven acquisitions that expand their local dominance, optimize their franchise portfolios and position their groups for long-term success with added geographic scale. Bob Bell Automotive Group recognized the exceptional opportunity Plaza Ford represented to expand their presence in a market in which they already have a presence and add a premier Ford franchise. These are exactly the kinds of acquisitions defining the most successful dealer groups today. Thank you to the Walls family for the honor of representing their esteemed legacy in auto retail, and congratulations to Bob Bell on this very strategic acquisition.”

Barrie Charapp Beaty of Charapp & Weiss, LLP served as legal counsel on the transaction.