Friday was as much a busy day as it was a day of gratitude for Curtis Knapp and his staff. The owner and operator of Duck Duck Drive, an eye/ear-catching used car dealer and repair shop in Dubuque, Knapp was all about making sure business at the shop ran as smoothly as ever, all while stopping to talk about its success.

I did a live broadcast at Duck Duck Drive's brand new location on Friday. The location is a familiar one for Dubuque residents: 4110 Dodge Street, in the former EZ Auto Finance building. Knapp has been a guest on Y105 in the past, but over the course of two hours, he got to tell listeners about the ins and outs of his shop and why they've been so successful in a short amount of time.

The exterior of Duck Duck Drive's new Dodge Street location. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
The exterior of Duck Duck Drive's new Dodge Street location. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
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As I wrote back in March 2023, the world of car-buying is nonlinear and anxiety-inducing. Horror stories and bad reviews fill the internet. Knapp set out to change that, or at least do his part to assure that customers are able to trust and rely on a small business in town that looks to make the car-buying process easy, even enjoyable.

So, his first step was naming his operation "Duck Duck Drive," and second was filling it with rubber ducks and other duck-related décor. There's something about the simple pleasure and innocence of ducks that put people at ease. If you purchase a vehicle at Duck Duck Drive, Knapp makes sure you also leave with a rubber duck as sort of a keepsake for your new vehicle.

You might even hear him proudly say his motto: "Just Duck'n Drive!"

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
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Several aspects of Knapp's business set Duck Duck Drive apart from other car dealers in the area. Here are just a few:

  • They're a small business that likes to have fun, and everything from the name to the décor around the shop/office reflects that.
  • Knapp prides himself on helping first-time buyers get into a ride they want as opposed to a ride they felt like they were sold.
  • Knapp has a personal commitment to getting people financed, regardless of bad, low, or middling credit.
  • Knapp has extensive experience in the car-world. He's helped countless individuals and consulted them throughout the purchase-process.
The interior of "Duck Duck Drive." Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
The interior of "Duck Duck Drive." Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
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The warmth and hospitality you'll experience at Duck Duck Drive is one of the many notable aspects of this dealer. It was a pleasure just to watch the office-camaraderie on Friday during my broadcast. In the midst of general office work were staff-members quick to aid customers, and, largely thanks to Knapp himself, a lot of high-fives, bro-hugs, and good vibes permeating the building.

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
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From sterling reviews to photos of happy customers on their Facebook page, everything about their operation screams successful. Knapp knows that a dealership is nothing without happy customers, referrals, and good reviews. If the cars on his lot aren't necessarily the one(s) you had in mind, he will work diligently to get the vehicle of your dreams delivered to his shop.

You can find out more about Duck Duck Drive and their new location on their website as well as their Facebook page! Duck Duck Drive is located at 4110 Dodge Street in Dubuque.

Art on the Dubuque Riverwalk (2023-24)

A look at some of the artwork featured on the Dubuque Riverwalk along the Mississippi River and the stories/statements behind them.

Gallery Credit: Steve Pulaski

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