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NEW OWNERS — Shults Ford and the Victory Automotive Group have purchased the Robinson Auto Group’s car dealerships.
TRIADELPHIA — The car dealerships near the Highlands came under new ownership Wednesday afternoon.
The former Jim Robinson Ford has been acquired by Shults Ford, which bills itself as “Pennsylvania’s largest Ford dealer.” The dealership has locations in Wexford, Harmarville and West Mifflin in Pennsylvania.
The former Bob Robinson Chevrolet Buick GMC and Bob Robinson Toyota also have been acquired by the Victory Automotive Group of Canton, Mich.
That transition is a significant one, as the Robinson family has served the Ohio Valley in automotive sales for nearly half a century.
Shults Ford owner Richard Bazzy was on site Wednesday afternoon to start the transition. The phone system had already been modified to include the name of Bazzy and Shults Ford.
Shults Ford only operates Ford franchises and is not taking over any other business in the Robinson Automotive Group.
“We’re excited as all heck to move into the Wheeling market,” Bazzy said. “It’s a different state, of course. But it is still close to our home base in Pittsburgh. I am excited and can’t wait to serve these customers.”
He credited Jim Robinson for doing a great job for many years at the dealership.
“We hope to be able to follow in his footsteps and accelerate even bigger and better and give people the opportunity to take advantage of our larger inventory selection,” Bazzy continued.
“It’s exciting. People have been so welcoming here – everyone in the community. Every business, every person we’ve come in contact with. We’re hopefully just going to grow it from here.”
Bazzy said he will retain the employees already working at the dealership.
He also indicated his company has a focus on the community.
“Our goal is to be a trusted member and helpful neighbor in Triadelphia and our surrounding communities,” Bazzy added
In 2023, Bazzy was recognized by Ford Motor Co.’s Salute To Dealers initiative, which honors dealer principals who have made an extraordinary commitment of their time and resources to help improve the lives of others by providing support for countless meaningful causes.
Bazzy also has established the Get Marty + Bazzy Fund with his daughter, Arianna Bazzy, to help identify specific needs and solutions in the community.
“Whether it’s a turkey on every table at the holidays, or a gift under the tree for every child, each venture has been created with one goal in mind: to help move peoples’ lives forward,” the company said in a released statement.
Shults Ford has a focus on education, and has started the Backpack Brigade and the Shults Ford Scholarship Fund to assist students.
“No matter our location, the people of Shults Ford strive to maintain our core values of honesty, transparency, and reliability,” Bazzy continued. “We are unwavering in our commitment to providing exceptional customer service and delivering vehicles of the highest quality.
“And we couldn’t be more proud to join the Triadelphia community.”
Representatives of the new ownership also were on site at the new Victory Toyota and Victory Chevy dealerships on Wednesday, according to general manager Vinny Costain.
As with Shults Ford, “almost 100 percent of employees are staying here,” he said.
Costain noted that the Victory Automotive Group most recently bought a Toyota dealership in Marietta. That dealership is the group’s second in Ohio, joining Victory Ford in Jefferson.
With this change, the Robinson name bids farewell to automotive sales in the Ohio Valley after nearly 50 years. Bob Robinson purchased his first car dealership in 1974 in New Martinsville. In the decades since, the Robinson Auto brand expanded. Robinson brought his company to Wheeling in 1988. Later, he brought his son, Jim, and daughter, Roberta Robinson Olejasz, into the family business.
The Robinsons long have been involved in community service in the Ohio Valley. In 2009, Bob Robinson was given the third YMCA Light of the Valley Award. He has served in leadership capacities with organizations including the YMCA, Bethany College and the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley.
The Robinson Auto Group has been a major advocate for breast cancer awareness through donations and with the Quilt for the Cure initiative.
