Glens Falls Business Journal
By LEE COLEMAN
The Romeo family is purchasing Whiteman Chevy, a local automotive institution on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls for the past 68 years, from the Whiteman family.
The late Roland Whiteman opened the dealership in 1956. His son Robert took over the business and for the past 20 years it has been operated by Amy Whiteman Brown, Roland’s granddaughter.
“My father (Len Romeo) has done business with Whiteman for years. It’s been a wonderful relationship, pushing some 40 years,” said Mike Romeo.
Mike Romeo said he and his three siblings — Joe, Lucia, and Genese — are buying the dealership together. “Amy has been wonderful,” he said. The closing on the sale was held earlier this month.
This is the first time he and his siblings have purchased a dealership together.
Family members currently own Carriage Traders on Saratoga Road in South Glens Falls, Romeo Toyota of Glens Falls on Broad Street, and Romeo Auto Outlet on Quaker Road in Queensbury.
Joe Romeo operates five dealerships in Kingston, NY. These include Romeo Chevrolet, Buick and GMC on Route 9W, Romeo Kia of Kingston, Romeo Ford of Kingston, Romeo Volkswagen of Kingston, and Romeo Nissan of Kingston.
Mike Romeo said with the acquisition of Whiteman Chevy in Glens Falls, the family owns and operates nine automotive “rooftops.”
“My father and I have known the Romeos for a long, long time,” said Amy Whiteman Brown, president of Whiteman Chevy. She said the majority of the 45 Whiteman employees will be working for the Romeos. “Our employees deserve a lot of credit” for the success of Whiteman Chevy over the years, she said.
She said the Chevy dealership has been a great asset to the Glens Falls community and her family for years and this will continue when the Romeo family takes over the business.
“We are comfortable with selling (the dealership) to the Romeos and that they will make some changes,” she said. “With every business acquisition it’s a new day. They have to react to the new customers,” she said.
The dealership will be called Romeo Chevrolet of Glens Falls.
“This is a positive thing. The Romeos have generations who want to be in the automotive business,” she said.
Mike Romeo said that his older brother, Joe, runs all the car dealerships in Kingston while Mike runs the dealerships in the Glens Falls area.
“Lucia (an attorney) is our corporate counsel and does all the closings and business deals,” Mike Romeo said. Lucia will also be the dealer principal at the Whiteman location.
Mike’s sister, Genese, coordinates business development for all the dealerships. Mike said his father, Len Romeo, is partially retired, letting his children lead the businesses into the future.