It was in the family, and then it wasn’t. But now it is again.
Confused? Don’t be. Just know that Mountaineer Honda in Bridgeport, W.Va., is back in the fold at Straub Automotive now that the merger has been completed between the two family-owned businesses, according to Bryan Fato, the executive manager of operations.
“Our business has experienced a lot of expansion over the last several years, so we have a pretty good handle on everything that needed to get done to make all of this agreement take place,” Fato explained. “What’s really interesting about all of this deal is that the Bridgeport location once was a part of the Straub Group. It was back when my grandfather was operating the business and he and one of his partners decided to buy it back then.
“It was called Fairmont Honda, and they had it for many years,” he reported. “Once they decided to go their own ways, the business partner kept that dealership, and my grandfather kept everything up here in Wheeling. So, this acquisition brings it all full circle.”
The Straub Automotive Group includes new-car dealerships in Wheeling, at The Highlands in Triadelphia, Glen Dale, in Moundsville, and now in Bridgeport, W.Va., and the brands include Nissan, Chrysler, Hyundai, Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Ford, and of course, Honda.
“Our new Mountaineer Honda was formerly Urse Honda and the operation serves the Fairmont, Bridgeport, Clarksburg markets, and also the Morgantown market to some extent,” Fato said. “And we know how important the Honda brand is in that area because it’s always been our bread and butter in the Wheeling area.
“That’s why anytime we have the opportunity to partner with Honda, we always look at those chances very closely because we’ve always had a great relationship with them,” he explained. “So, when I heard the family was thinking about getting out of the business, I picked up the phone, made a call, and met with the Urse family. I think we made a deal in 10 minutes.”
While the Straub business has included brands such as Studebaker and Plymouth in the past, it is the Honda brand that has been a constant favorite for more than 70 years. The latest expansion will allow that to continue at the new Bridgeport location.
“Personally, I’m not yet familiar with that Fairmont area market, but that will change because we’re really excited to gain that presence because that region is one of the fastest-growing areas in West Virginia,” Fato explained. “We love the Honda brand and we have a great relationship with the folks at Honda.
“The corporation has a great product that’s very, very consistent, and the people at Honda are great to work with, too,” he said. “We have 42 employees at Mountaineer Honda, and that brings our group up to about 250 employees.”
For decades, Straub Automotive was located on the corner of 16th and Market streets in downtown Wheeling before moving to its new location at The Highlands along Interstate 70. The business was founded by Glenn Straub Sr. in 1945, and today there are eight locations, seven dealerships, two collision repair centers, and a full-service insurance agency.
So, is an automotive empire the goal?
“I wouldn’t say we’re building an empire,” Fato said with a chuckle. “But I would say we’re always looking at strategic opportunities that make sense to our group. And when it comes down to it, we’re a local family-owned business that truly does care about our customers. I can tell you that we’re honored whenever someone comes here, trusts us, and purchases their next vehicle from us. That means a lot to us, it really does.
“People can shop and buy cars anywhere they want, and trust me, there are a lot of dealerships all over the place, and we realize that fact,” he added. “But here, there’s that personal touch, and our customers know they can reach out to us any time and get action because we’re available to resolve every situation. I like to believe that’s the reason we’ve been so successful over the years.”
