This ‘fairly reliable’ used-car dealership will leave Boise. What it plans
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fairly Reliable Bob’s plans relocation to a larger four-acre site in Meridian.
- Dealership runs strict inspections and repairs to sell high-quality used cars.
- Move aims to boost exposure and service capacity amid Treasure Valley growth.
The property that Fairly Reliable Bob’s sits on in the West End is for sale. But the business isn’t closing.
The used-car dealership at 2304 W. Main St. near downtown is somewhat of a Boise icon. It sells flashy old Corvettes (spot them out front) and a range of other cars — Subaru, Jeep, Chevrolet and other makes. Despite its tongue-in-cheek name and its “World Famous” signage (it only has one location), the family-owned shop has built a reputation that sets it apart from the stereotypical used-car dealer.
One user once asked on Reddit: “Is the consensus that Fairly Reliable Bob’s is still a fairly reliable resource for used cars in Treasure Valley?”
The top comment said, “I used to work for an auto auction in Nampa and Bob’s brother would come to the auction to buy for Fairly’s. They were very picky and only bought quality cars. Just based on that, I absolutely recommend.”
Butch Petersen, the general manager of Fairly’s, told the Idaho Statesman by phone that other used-car dealerships “don’t invest in their inventory the way we do.”
Now, Fairly’s is preparing to move to Meridian and expand.
Fairly’s cars are ‘ready to go’
If you buy a car from Fairly’s, you’re not going to end up with a lemon, according to Petersen. Though, the business has been criticized in its Google reviews for not listing prices on its website. Petersen said the shop has a stringent inspection process and replaces faulty parts, such as tires or brake pads, before reselling cars.
Bigger dealerships focus on having cheaper prices, and that causes quality to wane, he said.
“Nobody likes to go car shopping, because they always feel like they’re not going to get a fair value for their trade-in, or they’re pushed into financing scenarios that they didn’t ask for,” he said. “But we’ve worked very hard to earn a reputation of having the best, highest quality used vehicles in the valley. Mechanically, we make sure that they’re ready to go.”
In the used-car industry, that’s an anomaly, Petersen said. Fairly’s customer base is “very loyal,” and its service department has become “extremely busy,” he said.
That’s pushed the Petersen clan to expand. The dealership plans to move to a bigger location further west. The business is already under contract on a new property at 2957 E. Fairview Ave. in Meridian, and it hopes to be under contract soon to sell its Main Street site, which is listed for nearly $3.5 million.
Petersen said the shop will remain open during the transition. He expects to open at the new 4-acre lot, kitty corner to The Village at Meridian, around May or June of next year, after doing some remodeling at the site.
“There shouldn’t be any downtime whatsoever,” he said. “We’ll stay open downtown until we’re ready to quickly move to the new store and be available there for service and sales.”
He hopes the move to the busy corner in Meridian will increase the shop’s exposure. Fairview Avenue hosts a cluster of other car dealerships, including Larry H. Miller Subaru, Peterson Chevrolet Buick Cadillac, Park Place LTD, Maverick Car Co. and Driven.
He added that customers have struggled to get to Fairly’s this past year because of construction-related closures on 23rd Street in Boise. The dealership in 2022 decried raised-concrete bus stops newly installed along Main as unsafe, and it shared video from a security camera showing a minivan driving over one.
“We’re very grateful for the Boise area and the opportunity that we’ve had to become a stable downtown business over the last 50 years,” Petersen said. “We love what we do, and we love where we’ve been. It’s just time for us to grow with the Treasure Valley.”
Petersen’s father, Bob Petersen, started Fairly’s in 1975. His cousin, Grant Petersen Jr., sold Bronco Motors, a mainstay in the Treasure Valley new- and used-car business for over five decades, to Meridian-based Kendall Auto Group in July.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
