Bruner Auto Group held their official grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new General Motors dealership on Wednesday morning with local hundreds of local residents, business leaders and officials as well as several General Motors dignitaries.
Bruner Auto Group broke ground at their new location 22 months ago and recently relocated the new GM dealership.
The 30,000 square foot full service dealership is now home to the full line of GM products: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac, as well as a dedicated GM Quick Lube and an 8,000 square foot high technology body shop.
This year marks the Bruner Family’s 85th year of selling Chevrolets, making the Grand Opening event a very special occasion. “Ever since we purchased this dealership in 2007, we have looked forward to the day when we would move into a brand new facility,” said Bruner Auto Group President Greg Bruner. He outlined to the several hundred attendees at the event what the new dealership means to his family and how important the connection between the Bruner Auto Group and Brown County residents is to the company.
“Today marks a healthy future for generations to come,” Bruner said to those in attendance. “This day is about you, it’s a day of community celebration. We all strive to make Brown County a better place to live providing for our families and encouraging more folks to find and live in this great part of the state.”
County Judge Ray West commented on the Bruner’s newly constructed dealership and how connected the new dealership is to the residents of the county.
“Not withstanding this is Bruner Auto, but this is our dealership, this is the dealership of Brown County and this area,” West said to the Bruner family during the ceremony. “And we are thrilled to have you here.”
The state-of-the-art dealership contains the newest corporate images from General Motors as well as customer focused features throughout to make customers feel at home in the Bruner dealerships while combining technology and comfort.
The customer service area includes complimentary Wi-Fi that allows those waiting for repairs to work on their laptops and iPads without missing a beat. The dealership features a complete arsenal of service bays and spacious service drive so customers may enjoy a faster and more convenient experience.
Early Mayor Bob Mangrum outlined the months of work it took getting the new dealership relocated from Brownwood to the location in Early across from Heartland Mall.
“Congratulations to the Bruner Auto Group, the Bruner family and their partners, and all of their employees of the fabulous new facilities,” Mangrum said. “On behalf of the City of Early, I wish you many great years ahead.”
During the event, a large ribbon was cut to celebrate the opening of the new dealership (pictured above). As it was cut, confetti cannons were fired.
Bruner stated that the opening of the new facility marked progress, not only for his family’s company, but for the community as a whole.
“Today signifies that as a community, we’re moving forward in economic development, and this should send a clear message to those interested moving to Brown County,” Bruner said. “This is a great place to live, work and play.”
The ribbon cutting event also offered many prizes to those in attendance, including free car washes from Baird Brothers Express Car Wash, scratch cards giving free gas from Allsup’s, free dinner for two from Underwood’s or a pair of Wrangler jeans from Scott’s Western Wear with each test drive, and a $1,000 gas giveaway with Food Plaza, with 20 winners each receiving a $50 gas card.
About the Bruners: Dwain and Greg Bruner received the prestigious Family Business of the Year Award presented by Baylor University in November of 2011.
Charlie Bruner was the first family member in the auto-related industry, opening a full-service gas station in Kerens, TX, in 1923. In 1928, his son Vernon added Chevrolet sales and began what is now an 85-year-old love affair between the Bruners and Chevy.
In 1962, Vernon’s son Dwain opened his own dealership, Dwain 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 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 1928, four generations of Bruners have owned and operated Chevrolet dealerships in Texas.
Below are additional photos of the event.
Greg Bruner, Bruner Auto Family President, addresses attendees.
Bruner Auto Family, local officials and GM dignitaries as President Greg Bruner cuts the ribbon.
