Brown County business leaders are happy to walk into a vacant field to celebrate the expansion of a thriving business tomorrow (Thursday, October 13) at 11:00 a.m., as a dozen ceremonial shovels will turn the first dirt for a dazzling new auto dealership in Early.
Bruner Auto Group is holding the ground-breaking ceremony for their new General Motors facility at the intersection of Highways 377 and 183, across from Heartland Mall. The 30,000-square foot full-service dealership will house the full line of GM products: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick, as well as a dedicated GM Quick Lube and an 8,000-square foot high technology body shop.
“We are celebrating the 100th year of Chevrolet and our family’s 84th year of selling Chevrolets, so this is a special occasion for us,” says Greg Bruner, President of Bruner Auto Group. “We are looking forward to opening our new dealership just before Labor Day of 2012, weather permitting.”
The state-of-the-art dealership will contain the newest corporate images from General Motors as well as customer-focused features throughout. “We place a great emphasis on making our customers feel at home in our dealerships, and we are delighted to combine technology and comfort.”The customer service area will include complimentary WiFi that will allow those waiting for repairs to work on their laptops and iPads without missing a beat. The dealership will feature a complete arsenal of service bays and spacious service drive so customers may enjoy a faster and more convenient experience.
General Manager Jim Stanley has high expectations for the new dealership location. “We moved here in 2007 and became active members of the Brown County area, and the community has responded very kindly. Now our customers will experience the level of facilities usually found only in metropolitan areas, but they’ll continue to appreciate the down-home touch they’ve come to expect from Bruner Auto Group.”
The dealership is joining with Chevrolet to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness. Bruner Auto Group will make an announcement confirming a significant partnership with a local non-profit during the ground-breaking ceremonies.
About the Bruners:
Dwain and Greg Bruner will receive the prestigious Family Business of the Year Award presented by Baylor University in Waco on November 9. Charlie Bruner was the first family member in the auto-related industry, opening a full-service gas station in Kerens, TX, in 1923. In 1927, his son Vernon added Chevrolet sales and began what is now an 84-year-old love affair between the Bruners and Chevy.
In 1962, Vernon’s son Dwain opened his own dealership, Bruner Chevrolet, in Wolfe City, TX. By 1969 he had captured the attention of General Motors, which convinced him to move to Stephenville and acquire the local Chevrolet dealership. That dealership has received numerous performance awards from both Chevrolet and General Motors.
2007 saw the Bruners acquire the former Holley Chevrolet and Holley Toyota in Brownwood on East Commerce Street. Today the Bruners have new car operations in Stephenville (8 brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram) and Brownwood (5 brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Buick and Toyota). Bruner Motors also operates a freestanding used car and lube center operation in Glen Rose and a newly renovated (opened this week) high-technology car wash in Stephenville.
Greg Bruner is President of Bruner Auto Group in Brownwood and Jim Stanley is General Manager. Both Greg and his father Dwain Bruner are the dealer principals of Bruner Auto Group in Brownwood and Bruner Motors, Inc. in Stephenville.
Since 1927, four generations and five Bruners have owned and operated Chevrolet dealerships in Texas.
Pictured above is concept art for the new Chevrolet Dealership.
