Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The excitement was palpable as everyone gathered for the topping-off ceremony of the new Bert Ogden BMW dealership at 6001 North Cage in Pharr, Texas. This significant event, held under the Texas sun, marked a major milestone in the dealership’s construction journey. The ceremony celebrated not just the physical progress of the building but also the rich history and promising future of Bert Ogden Auto Group.
Josue Reyes, President and CEO of DWilson Construction, the contractor responsible for bringing the project to life, addressed the audience, expressing gratitude for their presence despite the scorching heat. He explained the significance of the topping-off ceremony in commercial construction, a tradition that marks the highest point of a building’s structure. At 52 feet high, the new BMW dealership is a towering addition to the Bert Ogden portfolio.
Reyes expressed a sentimental view of the ceremonial beam, explaining that it symbolized more than construction progress. The beam was part of steel bought by Mr. Bert Ogden, the company’s founder, representing the rich history and growth of the Bert Ogden Group.
Natasha Del Barrio, CEO of Bert Ogden Auto Group, took the stage to express her excitement and relief at reaching this milestone after 15 years of planning and overcoming numerous challenges. She recounted the dealership’s humble beginnings at the Nissan Store in McAllen, which housed a few BMWs in a tiny corner. The dealership later moved to its current location on Fern, where it quickly outgrew its space, making the new facility a necessity.
Natasha emphasized the uniqueness of the new dealership, which will be styled like a Manhattan boutique hotel. This innovative design, one of the first of its kind in the nation, promises to provide a luxurious experience for customers and team members alike.
She also highlighted the historical significance of the preserved ceremonial beam left behind by Mr. Bert Ogden. This beam symbolizes the company’s journey and its roots in the community. She praised Bob and Janet Vackar for their humble leadership and remarkable achievements, noting that Bert Ogden Auto Group is now the 52nd-largest auto group in the nation and the eighth-largest in Texas.
As the ceremony progressed, Natasha invited Bob and Janet Vackar to the stage, emphasizing their humility and the monumental growth of their business.
“Bob and Janet are far too humble to say this for themselves, but I’m not. You have come so far in such a short period, and I’m sure your parents would be incredibly proud. We are all so proud of you, and this is well deserved. We are privileged to represent you. So, Bob and Janet, come on up,” Natasha said.
Janet Vackar: “Natasha, you are awesome. Thank you. We appreciate you.”
Bob Vackar shared a story about Mr. Ogden: “When you talk about these beams, I must tell you the story about Mr. Ogden. He went to Houston with his crew and tore down an old Chevrolet building. They used steel from buildings Mr. Ogden bought many years ago and brought it back here. When I checked where the steel was stored, I realized we still had enough to keep building stores. Thanks to Bert and Dorothy Ogden’s vision, all these steel beams are finding a new home.”
Janet added a humorous anecdote: “When my dad was in that warehouse in Houston, Bob and I lived in Houston. I was worried because he spent the night there to protect what he was buying. He parked his truck on the sidewalk. I came over the next morning with breakfast to see if he was alive. He woke up, and Dad had already loaded all that steel into the trailer. It was huge. He hired someone in Houston to help him, too. The sidewalk started to buckle, and he got in trouble with the city and had to pay for it. That was my dad.”
Bob continued, “You guys have done a fantastic job, Natasha. Thank you so much. I deeply appreciate everything; our staff here have made this a success. Hopefully, we can keep growing. DWilson Construction is building a new Mercedes-Benz store that will open in two months if you haven’t been to the Harlingen area. We’re also moving into the new Chrysler store in two weeks, and the Genesis store opens in three weeks. Wilson is building four or five dealerships for us, including transforming the old Chrysler into a Hyundai store. There’s so much happening, and we are very proud of everyone involved.”
Bob praised Jorge’s management skills and the staff’s dedication: “Natasha was out last week and left me here with Jorge. Jorge, you do a fantastic job. I thought I could do spreadsheets and numbers better than anyone. I’d tell you something: you’re better than me.” Jorge A. Gutierrez is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Bert Ogden Auto Group.
Janet recognized Patrick Fralick, BMW’s general manager: “Patrick, we love you so much. You are quiet and calm. You are just the perfect BMW person, and we appreciate you. No one can do what you do. Thank you.”
Dr. Johnathan Flores, City Manager of Pharr, was called to the stage and said, “Good morning. It truly is an honor to be here with you all today to celebrate this special occasion. We are glad you chose Pharr. On behalf of our entire Pharr city commission, we are grateful to you for selecting Pharr. This is a momentous occasion, the first of its kind in Pharr, bringing such quality vehicles and an establishment to our city. Truly a blessing. Thank you for everything you do and for being a part of our city. We truly appreciate you.”
The concluding part of the topping-off ceremony celebrated the architectural vision and teamwork that brought this project to life. Carolina Civarolo, Principal Architect at Orange Made, provided insights into the design and development of the dealership.
“My favorite part of a project is when you see this skeleton, what this looks like. As an architect, sometimes we wish to throw a curtain over it, hide it until it’s done, and ensure it’s perfect. But it’s been a lot of hard work and coordination,” Carolina said.
She outlined the project’s scope: “We are developing a total of nine and a half acres. This includes improvements for future lots two and three and the improvement of Connie Road, right behind us. The main building, which includes the showroom and service area, spans about 40,000 square feet and includes 24 service spaces. Additionally, we have an 8,000-square-foot car wash building, bringing the total built area to about 48,000 square feet.”
Carolina described the final look as sleek and modern, aligned with German engineering principles. “The site will also include over 350 spaces for inventory cars, which is much needed based on the last site. The interior design will be like a five-star resort, with interwoven lounging spaces for sales, creating a comfortable and digital sales process for customers.”
Reyes returned to recap the event: “A few years ago, we received a call from a real estate friend. He said he had a client he would like us to meet. In a 20-minute meeting with Mr. Vackar, he outlined some of the most ambitious plans I had ever heard. Now, we are here with a Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, and now BMW.”
“We look forward to opening this BMW store for you early next year,” Reyes concluded.
Sergio Contreras, the master of ceremonies, acknowledged the special guests who had gathered to witness this momentous occasion. Among them were Janet Ogden Vackar and Robert C. Vackar, principals of the Bert Ogden Auto Group, Pharr City Manager Dr. Johnathan Flores, Assistant City Manager Dr. David Friedlein, EDC President Mr. Victor Pérez, Josue Reyes, President and CEO of DWilson Construction, and Travis Bush, the UTRGV Vaqueros football coach. Also present were Bob and Janet’s grandchildren.
