OLEAN, N.Y. — Paul Brown Motors Inc. has announced the acquisition of Team Chevrolet as the newest on a continually growing list of dealerships.
The purchase was completed Wednesday after more than a year of closing details, said Terry Brairton, Paul Brown Motors president.
Service will continue uninterrupted and unchanged at both the Chevy dealership at 2808 Route 16 in the town of Olean and the original Paul Brown network selling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Kia vehicles headquartered at 1145 E. State St. in the city.
“We’re still doing business as a Chevrolet store here on Route 16 in Olean,” Brairton said. “I think there were a lot of people who were wondering if we were moving to one spot or another, but we’re not. We’ll still have one on East State and a new one out here on 16.”
The Paul Brown Chevrolet facility is “state of the art,” Brairton added.
“It’s been a long growth curve at Paul Brown since when I started here,” said Brairton, who began working with Paul Brown in 1993 after his family acquired the franchise in 1985. “We were just a Dodge dealer alone. Years later we acquired the Jeep franchise. After that we acquired Marra Bros. Chrysler. Years after that we added a Kia franchise, and this year we’ve added Chevrolet.
“We are constantly growing, which is kind of the way the auto business has been working, with a lot of consolidation going on.”
There are currently 34 employees at Paul Brown Motors Inc. on East State Street, Brairton said, noting the 24 currently on staff at the Chevy dealer are likely to stay.
“We’ve done our best to blend the two stores to offer the customers the best of all worlds,” he said. “We will be bringing the Paul Brown way of doing business to the Chevy store. Longtime staffers from Team, like salesperson Joe Caya, are on board and looking forward to the change.
“We may bring some people from Paul Brown out to the Chevy location to teach about our ways and culture, to mix in with the people who are here. But if someone had a longstanding relationship with an employee with Team Chevrolet, you’ll probably find them still here.”
Brairton noted advantages to diversifying vehicle brands, makes and models. Car buyers will still have their pick of new and used at competitive prices, he added.
Former Team Chevrolet President Tom Steigerwald will retire after 20 years with the company, according to a press release. He and his wife, Sharon, reside in Rochester.
Brairton declined to note the acquisition cost.
