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Spitzer Automotive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spitzer Automotive
IndustryRetail
Founded1904; 120 years ago (1904)
FounderGeorge G. Spitzer
Headquarters,
United States
Area served
United States
Canada
Key people
Alan Spitzer (CEO)
Andrew Spitzer (COO)[1]
Alison Spitzer (president)[1][2]
Joey Mastrodonato (CFO)
Larry Horvat (CIO)
Deborah Noska (secretary)
ParentSpitzer Management
Websitewww.spitzer.com

Spitzer Automotive is an American automobile dealership which was founded in 1904 by George G. Spitzer.[1][3] It is a subsidiary of Spitzer Management which is based in Elyria, Ohio, United States.[4]

History

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Spitzer Automotive was founded in Grafton in 1904 by George G. Spitzer as a hardware store which included a livery stable.[1][5] They later extended and began renting horse-drawn buggies to train passengers.[6]

In 1945, John Spitzer assumed control.[5] He expanded the retail chain to 14 different locations in four states.[1][5] During his tenure, Spitzer developed Spitzer method which was used by Ford Motor Company in their corporate trainings.[1][7] John Spitzer died in 1992.[7]

In the 1980s, Alan Spitzer and Del Spitzer assumed control of daily operations from John Spitzer.[1] Under their leadership, Spitzer expanded its dealearship in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.[1] They also diversified their business and invested in marinas, farms in Lorain and Medina counties, developed Brentwood Lake Village, and the Pheasant Run Golf Course.[1]

During the 2007-2009 recession in the United States, automotive retailers were largely effected.[1] In 2009, Chrysler and General Motors became bankrupt and as a result discontinued their contracts with Spitzer and other auto dealerships.[1] Alan and Alison Spitzer lobbied for Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act to restore auto dealers rights.[1] The effort resulted in restoration of about one thousand dealerships.[1] They also wrote a book, named Grand Theft Auto, about this development.[1]

In 2015, Spitzer was inducted into the One Hundred Year Club of the Western Reserve.[1][8]

As of 2021, Spitzer operate more than twenty-one auto dealerships in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "SPITZER ORGANIZATION". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  2. ^ "ALISON SPITZER". Crain's Cleveland Business. November 15, 2011.
  3. ^ "John Burke, Helped Build Spitzer Automotive Chain". ProQuest 291684261. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  4. ^ "Spitzer Management".
  5. ^ a b c Haskins, Elaine. "Johnson Motors and Johnson Subaru join Spitzer Automotive". The Courier Express. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  6. ^ Lubinger, Bill; Dealer, The Plain (2009-05-17). "Spitzer family's auto sales legacy, now facing challenge of Chrysler dealership closings, dates to early 1900s". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  7. ^ a b "Car dealer, developer John Spitzer dies". The Plain Dealer. ProQuest 291494399. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  8. ^ "ONE HUNDRED YEAR CLUB OF THE WESTERN RESERVE INDUCTEES". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. November 4, 2020.

Further reading

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  • Grand Theft Auto (2011 book)