East Syracuse Chevrolet sold to Buffalo-area auto group

DeWITT, N.Y. — A prominent automotive group in the Buffalo area is entering the Syracuse market for the first time with its purchase of East Syracuse Chevrolet.

Orchard Park–based West Herr Automotive Group has completed the purchase of East Syracuse Chevrolet at One Chevy Drive in DeWitt. The business will be known as East Syracuse Chevrolet, a member of the West Herr Automotive Group, effective Monday.

The purchase represents West Herr’s first dealership in the Syracuse area, per a news release which didn’t include any financial terms of the purchase agreement. It’s also West Herr’s 32nd location and its fourth Chevrolet dealership location.

West Herr has eight dealerships in the Rochester market. Michael Daeschner will serve as its general manager, and Becky Boyle will be the assistant general manager.

Gino Barbuto, owner and dealer principal, said the decision to sell “was not easy” and it’s “bittersweet for me after being here 35 years.”

“I am comfortable that West Herr is the right group for my employees and the community at this time,” Barbuto said. “I know they will do a great job and continue the success we’ve had. I would like to thank the community for their support all these years. It’s been a blessing to serve the community.”

Scott Bieler, president & CEO of the West Herr Automotive Group, said the company is “excited” to enter the Syracuse market, and feel that it is a “great opportunity for the continued growth” of West Herr.

“Acquiring the #1 Chevrolet dealership in the market, also one of the largest dealerships of any brand in that market, along with a state-of-the-art collision center and the Chevrolet medium duty franchise is very exciting,” Bieler said.

East Syracuse Chevrolet has been in business for 82 years and is described as the largest Chevrolet dealership/collision center in Syracuse, with Chevrolet as “the highest volume manufacturer in that area,” per the release.

The dealership will have 95 employees and is projected to sell a combined total of 3,000 new and used vehicles per year.

Founded in 1950 in Hamburg, West Herr says it is the largest automotive group in New York state.