Built on Friendship
The story of the Friendship Family of Dealerships is one of passion, community, and service. From our founding in 1993 with a single Ford franchise to our expansion across the Southeast, we have grown by focusing on the people who make our success possible. Explore the key milestones in our history below, or discover the culture and leadership that drive our team every single day.
The Foundation — December 6, 1993
Founded on December 6, 1993, Friendship Ford of Bristol officially opened its doors in Bristol, Tennessee, marking the beginning of what would become one of the region’s most respected automotive groups. The Ford franchise had been dormant since the previous dealership closed in early 1991 after approximately 20 years of operation. Ford Motor Company maintained control of the franchise and carefully evaluated potential ownership candidates. After nearly eighteen months of persistence and dedication, Mitch Walters was awarded the franchise, establishing Friendship Ford of Bristol, located on the Volunteer Parkway, and laying the foundation for the Friendship Family of Dealerships.
In the spring of 2019, Friendship Ford of Bristol relocated to a new 45,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility on West State Street near Interstate 81, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to growth, customer service, and innovation.
Expanding the Footprint — 1999-2008
Friendship’s expansion began in 1999 when Mitch Walters and longtime friend Steve Stefanovich purchased the Honda dealership in Boone, North Carolina. Renamed High Country Honda, the dealership opened in January 2000. Mitch later acquired full ownership in 2007, and the dealership now operates as Friendship Honda of Boone.
In 2003, Friendship joined the Hyundai brand by acquiring the exclusive Hyundai franchise for the Tri-Cities region, creating Friendship Hyundai of Bristol. Continued success led Hyundai Motor America to award Friendship a second franchise and Friendship Hyundai of Johnson City opened in January 2006.
Growth continued with the addition of Friendship Volvo of Bristol in 2007 and the acquisition of Friendship Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Bristol in 2008. In July 2020, Friendship CJDR of Bristol relocated to a brand-new state-of-the-art facility on West State Street, near Interstate 81.
Diversifying the Business — 2012
Friendship expanded its service operations in 2012 with the opening of Quick Lane Tire & Service Center, now operating as Friendship Car Care.
During 2012 and 2013, Friendship further diversified its business model by launching FriendshipCars.com locations in Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, providing customers with quality pre-owned vehicles across the region. The Bristol and Johnson City locations became Zoom Automotive in 2022.
Entering Powersports — 2015
Friendship entered the powersports industry in June 2015 with the opening of Friendship Motorsports in Bristol, Virginia. The dealership represented premier brands including Indian Motorcycle, Yamaha, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Polaris, and Slingshot. Under the leadership of Vice President and Operating Partner Mick Marshall, the dealership became Friendship’s first venture in Virginia. The location was sold to Mountain Motorsports in April 2026.
The company expanded its powersports presence in February 2016 with the opening of Indian Motorcycle of Savannah in Georgia. Under the leadership of Bob Millsap, the dealership added Polaris and Slingshot in 2020, followed by Suzuki and Royal Enfield in 2023, creating a diverse and successful powersports operation.
The West Virginia Expansion — Early 2023
The year 2023 marked one of the most significant growth periods in Friendship history. At the request of Hyundai Motor America, Friendship acquired the Hyundai Dealership in Princeton, West Virginia, establishing the company’s first location in the state with Friendship Hyundai of Princeton.
Soon afterward, Friendship acquired the Kia and Subaru franchises located in Beckley, West Virginia, followed immediately by the acquisition of the Hyundai Dealership in Beckley. These transactions brought four new dealerships into the Friendship family:
- Friendship Hyundai of Princeton
- Friendship Hyundai of Beckley
- Friendship Kia of Beckley
- Friendship Subaru of Beckley
The Largest Acquisition...yet — Late 2023
In December 2023, Friendship completed one of the largest acquisitions in company history with the purchase of AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Johnson City. Rebranded as Friendship CJDR of Johnson City, the acquisition strengthened Friendship’s leadership position in Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge sales and service throughout the Tri-Cities region.
Investing in the Future — 2026 & Beyond
Friendship continues to invest heavily in facilities, infrastructure, and customer experience.
In April 2026, Friendship opened a brand-new state-of-the-art Hyundai facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, further expanding the company’s presence in the Tri-Cities market and providing customers with a modern retail and service experience designed to meet Hyundai’s latest standards. Friendship owns Hyundai locations in Bristol, Kingsport, & Johnson City, Tennessee by adding Friendship Hyundai of Kingsport.
In June 2026, Friendship broke ground on a new Ford Pro Elite Commercial Service Center in Bristol, Tennessee. Scheduled to open in early 2027, the facility will significantly expand Friendship’s commercial vehicle service capabilities and reinforce its commitment to serving business and fleet customers throughout the region with 24 additional heavy duty truck service bays.
Leadership
Mitch Walters has been active in the automobile business virtually all of his life. His father Robert Walters and grandfather Joseph Walters were the Chevrolet dealers in Hebron, Ohio, a small town in South Central Ohio. After working several years at Walters Chevrolet in most every department and graduating from college in May of 1976, Mitch moved to Bristol, Tennessee to further his experience in the automotive industry. Mitch started in sales at the local Chevrolet – Cadillac dealership and worked his way up to Vice President / General Manager and partner of the local Honda · Mazda · Nissan · and Suzuki dealerships. In 2007, Mitch sold his interest and focused entirely on building the Friendship brand.
Today, both of Mitch’s sons are active shareholders and leaders within the organization:
Brandon Walters serves as President and Chief Executive Officer
Dustin Walters serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Together, they continue to guide the company’s strategic growth while maintaining the values and culture established by their father.
Recognition & Culture
The Friendship Family of Dealerships has earned national recognition as one of the Automotive News Best Dealerships to Work For every year since 2011 and has been honored as the #1 Best Dealership to Work For in America. Friendship remains one of only a select group of dealership organizations with locations that have earned this distinction every year since the program's inception.
The company’s success is rooted in its commitment to its people. Friendship has built a culture centered on leadership development, employee growth, customer service excellence, and community involvement.
Headquarters & Community
Friendship’s corporate headquarters opened in May 2014 on West State Street in Bristol, Tennessee. The facility serves as the administrative center for the organization and houses both the Friendship Foundation and the Friendship Institute of Excellence, supporting charitable giving, leadership development, and employee training initiatives.
A second administrative office located on Meadowview Road in Bristol was added in 2024 to accommodate the continued growth of Friendship’s accounting and administrative teams.
Beyond business success, Friendship remains deeply committed to supporting the communities it serves through charitable partnerships, educational initiatives, and civic engagement. Mitch and Danea Walters have long been active supporters of numerous community organizations, and that spirit of giving continues throughout the Friendship organization today.
Camp Friendship
The Friendship Family of Dealerships created the FriendshipCares initiative to support our local communities, and in 2021 Camp Friendship was established.
Partnered closely with the Bristol YMCA Summer Camp Program, Camp Friendship is able to create meaningful opportunities for children to connect with nature. Kids embark on unforgettable adventures, immersing themselves in the tranquility of the great outdoors. Surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature, they engage in activities like hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, crafts, roasting marshmallows around the campfire, and much more! These experiences foster a deep appreciation for the environment while cultivating lifelong memories and friendships. Mitch Walters has a mission to “Get the kids feet wet, hands dirty and enjoy the outdoors.”
