Albion dealership becomes Bidleman Chevrolet Buick GMC
Photo by Tom Rivers: George Bidleman (left), owner of Orleans Ford in Medina, and his business partner, Sam LaNasa, have acquired the Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership in Albion. The site will be upgraded and the inventory should grow from 80 vehicles to about 300 in a few months.
ALBION – The Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership in Albion has new owners who will add inventory and staff to the Route 98 location.
George Bidleman, one of the partners at Orleans Ford, has purchased the former Don Davis Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership. Bidleman is co-owner of the Albion dealership along with Sam LaNasa, who works as general manager for Bidleman at Orleans Ford.
“We’re looking to increase our presence in the Orleans County market,” Bidleman said.
The dealership will be known as Bidleman Chevrolet Buick GMC.
Bidleman started as general manager at Orleans Ford in 1987, when he was 27. He became president and partner in the business in 2002. Orleans Ford has grown to an inventory of 500 vehicles and a staff of 55 that sell about 200 vehicles a month.
LaNasa has 35 years in the auto business in the Buffalo market. He has worked closely with Bidleman the past two years and is impressed with how Bidleman operates, the way he treats customers and employees.
The Albion location was built in 1967 and opened as Nesbitt Motors. LaNasa and Bidleman said the building and site will be upgraded. The existing six employees in sales, service and the office will stay and more employees will be added.
LaNasa expects up to 20 employees there in the next few months and the inventory to increase from 80 vehicles to about 300.
The 22 acres at the site, 4048 Oak Orchard Rd., is one of the appeals. That gives Bidleman and LaNasa plenty of room to display vehicles. In Medina, they use the former Ames parking lot of Maple Ridge Road as an overflow lot.
LaNasa also said three brands “have a great new lineup of cars” with sedans, SUVs, pickups and other vehicles.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: On Monday the deal closed for George Bidleman and Sam LaNasa to acquire the Albion dealership. Pictured, from left, include Jillian Stadwick, Chevrolet rep; George Bidleman, owner; Sam LaNasa, owner; Carl Eldridge, GM Financial rep; and David Jetty, zone business manager.
