MINI is doing their best to adapt to the changing market and trying to reverse the softening sales.

The market demand for compacts with high mpg has declined since we no longer have hyper-expensive gas. Sport ute's and pickups are selling with many compact models slowly disappearing...  

Being a premium brand, MINI occupies a slightly different market segment and they are planning new and different models to bolster sales. 

If the economy should change directions, it will be a whole new set of dynamics....

Here in Louisville, MiniUSA turned down the local BMW dealer's bid to sell MINI's, wanting a separate showroom and facility.

So MINI of Louisville was a separate entity, which failed. As it was closing its doors, MiniUSA went back to the BMW dealership, who turned them away, not wanting any piece of the failure.

MINI owners in Louisville now have to go to Cincy or Indy for their warranty coverage. They are NOT happy. Some purchased their cars just months or weeks before the dealership closed its doors, without warning.

I had purchased the very first car to roll off the lot at the then brand new MINI of Louisville in 2010. I loved the way the car drove, but it was a maintenance nightmare and I unloaded it in 2015.

I was ask to stop by the Norfolk MINI/BMW dealer when they first opened. As I understood it a BMW dealer could sell MINI but was required a stand alone show room. First last and only visit, they wanted some pictures for upcoming news paper article. Now that the new mini is almost an antique and next year the Clubman will carry 4x8 sheet plywood, who knows whats right. There is a local independent shop and his fenced lot is full all the time. Seems the early 6 speed S was one to get. Not sure I have ever been in one unless I rode with Howard. Steve (CTR)

I hear them referred to sometimes as fake Minis

Agreed on not feeding the ego. And those scars from history are still with us. Actually the fight was over the name "Mini" in all its variations and they went after all businesses catering to the classic Mini world that used "Mini" in their company identity.
However, I prefer the all-caps version to refer to the BMW products because they are all much bigger ( and continuing to do so ) than a real Mini.

Where I live in Raleigh-Durham, NC the MINI dealer is separate from the BMW dealers.  The same applies to the other MINI dealers I can think of in my state.  Do BWM dealers sell MINIs in other parts of North America?

Jim, I see "MINI" differently.  I am not praising BMW for their car by putting it in all caps.  BMW chose to market their car in all caps and it provides a simple way to distinguish between the classic Mini and the BMW MINI.  

Closing footnote:  I took my Mini to the grocery store last week.  When I got out of my car a young man in a very large pickup stopped long enough to tell me how nice my "real Mini" (his words) looked compared to the modern (BWM) MINI.

writing Mini in all caps, like MINI only feeds the ego and bullying tactics of BMW.. who can forget how BMW went after websites that had the name Cooper in it or other names they tried to have cease using that name.. 

very short version of the story:
In the USA, BMW MINI sales are slumping, dealerships are hurting.  Some dealers suck. Others OK. New head of MINI USA is considering new MINI dealerships independent from the BMW dealerships, lifting MINI from dealerships that aren't delivering good service to MINI owners.

original post edited with a new link.. not exact same article but some of the same points. 

I don't remember ever going to that website but when I try your link I am met with the message:
"Automotive News.  You've reached your free story limit."

I am sure the article is copyrighted.  Can you post a short summary in your own words?  

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/11/11/mini-looking-into-selling-cars-at-non-bmw-dealers/