PETER KAHLO DETAILS EARLY LIFE IN GERMANY & CAREER IN NEW BOOK Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Eli Beaverson
“I came over here because I met her and we decided to get married,” Kahlo says.
For Peter Kahlo, the key to success whether, in his case, running a successful Northside Indy car dealership for more than three decades, or writing a book about his incredible life - is simple. It’s all about hard work.
The couple was married for 63 years, and Donna, who served as an office manager and co-owner of the car dealership Kahlo eventually opened in Noblesville, passed away in 2017.
Kahlo grew up in East Germany during Adolf Hitler’s rule, prior to and during World War II. He says coming to America at age 26 was an opportunity he cherishes to this day.
After arriving in America, Kahlo wasted no time starting his professional life and worked diligently to open an auto service station called Pete’s Service Center at the intersection of East 49th Street and North Pennsylvania Street in Indy.
“With what was going on at that time in Germany, coming to America was like heaven,” Kahlo recalls. “Everybody talked about how beautiful and great America was, and it is.” Kahlo met his future wife Donna, an Indiana native, on an ocean liner while working as a steward, and says the two shared an instant chemistry.
Service Center, Kahlo tried his hand at selling cars at the business, but soon city officials caught wind of his efforts and gave him notice that the property wasn’t properly zoned for such an endeavor.
“At that time, I really didn’t know what to do with my life, and I had no experience except in agriculture in Germany and in the hotel business,” Kahlo says. “I worked “When I found out I wasn’t zoned for it, very hard and ran a service station for 32 years. It became very, very popular and also I said to myself that one day I would find a piece of property and sell cars, and then very profitable.” they can’t chase me anymore,” Kahlo says with a laugh. Toward the end of his tenure at Pete’s 28 / NOBLESVILLE MAGAZINE / JUNE 2020 / atNoblesville.com
