Tenvorde Ford of Saint Cloud Minnesota - The oldest Ford dealership in the World
In 1899 a blacksmith, nicknamed the daredevil, brought a Milwaukee Steamer to St. Cloud Minnesota. His name was Stephen Tenvorde. Four years later he would strike a deal with Henry Ford to sell automobiles. This lead to the opening of what is now the oldest Ford dealership in the world, Tenvorde Ford.
Stephen Tenvorde marketed his new business by staging demonstrations and sold the vehicles by promoting the "go anywhere lifestyle" in the small farming community that was St. Cloud MN. The efficient manufacturing methods (including paying his workers $5 per day) incorporated by Henry Ford enabled him to build Ford Motor Company into an industry giant. With the introduction of the Model T in 1908, Ford became the affordable car for the average American. Tenvorde Ford and Stephen Tenvorde prospered in their downtown St. Cloud location.
By 1910 Stephen Tenvorde had built his business and had expanded into a stand alone shop on the west side, even adding a showroom and service bay. The service bay proved to be an incredibly smart business decision as that is a large part of how the dealership stayed alive through the Great Depression. Ever the entrepreneur, Steven Tenvorde invented a car jack, known as the Tenvorde Jack, and sold the patent to Ford in 1921.
Upon his death in 1943 the business was taken over by his son Cy. Eventuallythe location was moved to 185 Roosevelt Road where Tenvorde Ford now occupies 2 full city blocks. At Tenvorde Ford you can see the newest Mustangs, trucks and SUVs as well as some great little economy cars, oh yea and did I mention the Mustangs?
Tenvorde Ford is now 107 years old, and part of the only American car company not government owned. It is a St. Cloud landmark, a wonderful business model and still family owned.
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