Darwish, a former platform manager for Napleton Automotive Group and a minority investor in a New Jersey Audi dealership, claimed that after signing a contract with Fuccillo in August 2020, he experienced a number of delays. Because to COVID-19, his law firm had to close, and Darwish became ill.
Darwish claimed he spent two months on oxygen but made a full recovery. Billy Fuccillo Sr., the CEO of Fuccillo Automotive, passed away in June 2021.
Darwish claimed that over those 20 months, he slept very little as he tried to finalize the agreement by meeting with numerous manufacturers and banks.
He currently employs more than 400 individuals, all “extremely good employees,” according to Darwish.
The crew that came with this contract, he remarked, “is outstanding.” The squad is outstanding as a whole.
Prior to a year or two ago, the Fuccillo Automotive Group owned more than 20 dealerships, but it has since sold many of those locations. Early in 2021, the company sold Matthews Auto Group five dealerships in New York. Then, in March 2021, it sold LMP Automotive Holdings Inc. two Kia dealerships in Florida. It gave Morgan Automotive Group a Nissan dealership in Clearwater, Florida, in August of last year.
Around the time of the Darwish acquisition, Fuccillo Chevrolet-Buick at the Auto Mall in Adams and Fuccillo Chevrolet of Nelliston both closed their doors in New York. The franchises were canceled in late April and early May, according to a GM representative. Darwish bought the land for both locations as part of his deal.
He hopes to apply to revive the Chevrolet store in Adams and plans to use the locations as used-car dealerships.
Since he was 21, Darwish, 50, who claimed to be a college dropout, has dreamed to run a vehicle shop.
He said, “I gave everything to get here. “I put everything at stake to get here.”
He also wants more. Darwish stated that he plans to start searching for additional dealerships before the end of the year in order to expand his current collection of 90+ locations.
According to Darwish, Bob Morris of the Columbus, Ohio-based buy-sell firm Tim Lamb Group handled the seller in the deal.
In This Article...
What happened to Billy Fuccillo?
1956 saw the birth of Fuccillo in Greenport, Suffolk County, New York. He earned a marketing degree from Syracuse University in 1978. [1] After graduating from college, he worked at several auto lots. He went independent and started his own dealership in 1989. Over the years, the company expanded to have over 25 dealerships in Florida and New York. [2] distributing a range of brands. [3] His catchphrase, “It’s HUGE!” is frequently used throughout his advertising. [4] [5] Tom Park, who served as Fuccillo’s production director and the straight man in many of the company’s advertisements up until 2018, remarked that the line was first improvised by Fuccillo in response to the large turnout at a sales event. The two liked it so much that they adopted it as their trademark from that point forward. [6]
On June 17, 2021, Fuccillo passed away in his Florida home after months of deteriorating health and a protracted illness.
[7] Almost precisely one year later, Park passed away. [8]
What became to the Kia Fuccillo guy?
Billy Fuccillo’s booming voice can be heard on the radio, on television, or on the lot if you live in Southwest Florida or close to one of his other dealerships.
According to his dealership, Fuccillo, 65, passed away on Friday, June 18, following months of deteriorating health.
It’s going to be huuuuuge! was Fuccillo’s catchphrase. he has a great heart as well. on-air.
Along with running the Fuccillo Automotive Group, he frequently gave to charity, including $100,000 in 2019 for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida to help fight local hunger.
Every time Fuccillo gave a gift, he appeared to be the recipient rather than the giver. Fuccillo was quite compassionate. Over the years, he donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to both the Salvation Army and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Billy had a reputation for unexpectedly calling and stating, “Hey, I’ve got something for you. And as a result of that, Richard LeBer, CEO of the Harry Chapin Food Bank, stated, “You know, he fed many thousands of people in Southwest Florida.” “I believe that the word “big” will simply become part of everyday speech for a very long time to come.
Fuccillo knew Robert Goodman as a buddy. When Fuccillo converted Goodman’s land into his Cape Coral Kia vehicle business, the two came into contact.
He was anxious about it, according to Goodman. “He phoned me Bobby, Bobby, and he said, ‘This doesn’t work, I need you to purchase it back from me, I want to, I want to get a money-back guarantee, and I was so convinced that it would work.'”
Fuccillo became a philanthropist quite quickly. He began giving away free homes and automobiles. Free gas day was also observed.
According to Goodman, “He was you know, he had this presence on TV. “But when you got to know him, he was really, you know, a humble man.
Sandra Hamblin George, a customer, stated, “I want to thank Billy Fuccillo from Fuccillo Kia of Cape Coral. We had such lovely memories of our trips to Europe and the Bahamas. ” Billy, you are appreciated and will be missed.
The Cape Coral and Port Charlotte Fuccillo Kia dealerships were sold to LMP Automotive Holdings, a Delaware-based company, in late 2020.
Visit this link to view Fuccillo’s obituary. On June 24, his funeral will take place in Syracuse, New York.
Billy Fuccillo was bought by whom?
New York’s WATERTOWN (WWNY) – There has been a huge shift in the neighborhood auto industry.
Wally Darwish now owns 12 Fuccillo Automotive dealerships around New York, including the Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Mitsubishi dealerships in Watertown and Adams.
“When I learned that I could and had the chance to buy these dealerships, I really pursued it and pursued it hard,” Darwish said on Tuesday.
Darwish acknowledges that he must step into very huge shoes, but the New Jersey native claims that his love of the spotlight is similar to Fuccillo’s.
“Man, you remind us of that man Billly Fuccillo,” people would frequently say to me when they saw me on television when I would say, “Come on down, have fun, and get a wonderful price, woo hoo,” Darwish added.
Darwish wants all of his clients and colleagues to continue to exhibit the same compassion and consideration that Fuccillo was known for.
I’m very thrilled that the people that are here will have the chance to grow alongside me, he remarked.
Darwish gave every employee at the places it acquired the opportunity to work for him or her going forward.
In addition, Darwish claims that he plans to buy successful dealerships like Fuccillo’s in order to achieve his goal of becoming a household name in five to seven years.
Caroline returned to Fuccillo Kia, but why?
Back in 2017, she left her position. Then Billy Fuccillo sponsored a competition to choose Caroline’s replacement, and McKinzie Roth won. Billy claimed Caroline called him and requested to return.
Kia of Port Charlotte’s owner?
LMP Automotive Holdings, a Delaware-based company, signed a contract to purchase the Fuccillo Kia dealerships in Cape Coral and Port Charlotte.
Bill Fuccillo, the owner of Fuccillo Kia, is highly known in the neighborhood, particularly for his involvement with the Harry Chapin food bank.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank’s president is Richard LeBer. He remarked, “We love him and greatly appreciate Billy and Fucillo Auto Group’s assistance. They have long been our supporters and have generously supported many of our friends and neighbors.
Billy Fuccillo and the business were active participants in the annual WINK Feeds Families Hunger Walk, which raises funds to feed neighborhood families.
In what Florida city did Billy Fuccillo reside?
ADAMS
According to a story in the media, William B. “Billy Fuccillo, who started his prosperous chain of car dealerships in Adams, has sold a house in Cape Coral, Florida, and one of his businesses in Fort Meyers, Florida.
The proprietor of Fuccillo Automotive Group, Mr. Fuccillo, sold his three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom, 4,400-square-foot waterfront property in southwest Cape Coral for $2.5 million in October, according to a report in The Fort Meyers Free Press on Friday.
Kevin Ruane, a self-made millionaire, an 11-year mayor of Sanibel Island, and a recently elected Lee County commissioner, was revealed as the buyer by the Florida newspaper. Ruane intends to utilize the property as an investment and perhaps as his own house in the future.
The newspaper further states that Mr. Fuccillo paid LMP Automotive Holdings, Plantation, Florida, $36 million for his Fort Meyers Kia business. According to the survey, that business has been named the best-selling Kia dealership worldwide.
In Adams, Mr. Fuccillo established his first dealership in 1989. In addition to the 27 locations spread across New York and Florida, he still runs dealerships in the cities of Adams and Watertown.
Wesley Chapel’s Kia is owned by who?
According to the lawsuit, Fuccillo operates Fuccillo Kia in Wesley Chapel while his competitor, Century Kia, is only 10 miles away.
How did Fuccillo Nissan Clearwater fare?
According to Kerrigan Advisors, who acted as Fuccillo’s representative and advisor, Fuccillo Automotive Group has sold its Fuccillo Nissan of Clearwater business to Morgan Auto Group.
Since December 2019, Kerrigan has sold Fuccillo a total of five Florida dealerships. The deal marks Kerrigan’s 121st dealership sale since 2015 and her ninth in the last 28 months.
In contrast, Morgan Auto Group operates 46 locations across Florida in the cities of Tampa, Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers, Brandon, New Port Richey, and Orlando.
“It just seemed logical that these two would match. According to a news release from the Fuccillo Automotive Group, president Billy Fuccillo Jr., “Our goal was to ensure that Nissan of Clearwater continued to serve the community with the highest of standards, and Morgan Auto Group’s deep roots in Florida, and superlative record, should ensure just that.” “With yet another smooth acquisition, Kerrigan Advisors proved their strategic prowess and thorough understanding of our business.
“From our earlier work with the Fuccillo group, we realized the importance of the relationship between the Fuccillos and the Florida communities they serve, as well as the significance of their legacy in the state,” said Kerrigan Advisors vice president Gabe Robleto in the press release. In today’s competitive auto retail buy/sell market, we are honored to have had the chance to uphold that legacy as we guided the group through another successful transaction.
The managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, Ryan Kerrigan, stated that Florida has one of the greatest car retail markets in the country. This transaction demonstrates that all franchises in Florida have the potential to produce large profits, robust buyer demand, and eventually high valuations.
“Over the past few years, we have enjoyed collaborating with the Fuccillo family to capitalize on their decades of toil. One of the most rewarding aspects of our job at Kerrigan Advisors is assisting dealer families with generational planning and legacy decisions. It has been a privilege for us to assist the Fuccillo family.
Was fuccillo purchased by Matthews Auto?
In February 2021, Matthews purchased the Fuccillo Nissan and Kia dealerships in Clay, the Fuccillo Hyundai and Kia of Greece dealerships in Greece, close to Rochester, and the Fuccillo Hyundai and Kia dealership in Syracuse.
The sales occurred just a few months before Billy Fuccillo, the owner of 21 dealerships in New York and Florida, passed away.
President Rob Matthews stated in a news release that “all sites were instant contributions to the overall success of Matthews Auto.” The teams in Albany have been introduced to us, and we have every reason to assume that they possess the same remarkable level of talent that we observed in the Fuccillo stores we previously acquired.
Approximately 100 Fuccillo employees will join the 850 Matthews team members, and Matthews said additional personnel may be employed as needed to meet business requirements.
According to him, the business now has five Kia locations, making it one of the state of New York’s biggest Kia dealers.
Billy Fuccillo’s method?
Tamp, Florida
According to numerous sources, renowned auto salesman Billy Fuccillo, whose watchword was “big,” passed away at his Florida home.
According to CNY Central, Fuccillo’s death, which apparently occurred after a protracted illness, was verified by the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association.
His Syracuse-based Fuccillo Automotive Group, which also has sites in Florida, is said to be the biggest privately-owned dealership in New York State, according to the Times-Union. Additionally, Fuccillo had auto stores in Grand Island.
Fuccillo had a reputation for being a philanthropist in addition to running auto businesses. Fuccillo Automotive provided hundreds of meals at a time to front-line staff at hospitals around Western New York during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Billy Fuccillo Jr., his wife Cindy, and the 64-year-old man who formerly played football at Syracuse University are his only surviving family members.
Did Fuccillo play football in college?
Billy Fuccillo, the charismatic owner of a New York-based car dealership who was well-known for his advertisements, passed away on Thursday in Sarasota, Florida. He was 65.
Fuccillo was made famous for using the word “massive” in exaggerated car advertising, but those who knew and loved him best remember him for his less well-known altruistic side.
Fuccillo laboriously and painstakingly grew a national car industry empire. The largest privately held auto retailer in the state and the largest Kia dealer in the world, the Fuccillo Automotive Group, was where he held the positions of president and chief executive officer.
Near Watertown, in Adams, the franchise got its start. He left behind aftershocks that reverberated in New York, where he had a profound effect. The neighborhood is becoming increasingly aware of his quiet manner away from the spotlight and his covert compassion.
For years, Fuccillo would begin his day at Tonys Family Restaurant, which was close to one of his Syracuse dealerships. The proprietor of Tony’s and Fuccillo’s friend, Tony Albanese, is aware of Fuccillo’s routine.
According to Albanese, “He would arrive around the same time I would.” “morning at seven. We would take a seat and chat for hours. Here, he met several of his friends. His marketing personnel were also present in the morning.”
Fuccillo is credited by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick for being the first to significantly donate to the Forman Park-based Syracuse Police Memorial for Fallen Officers, which was established in 2002. He remembered Fuccillo as a very kind, humorous, and kind man.
“He helped so many people in the background without ever looking for recognition. He will be sorely missed, Fitzpatrick said.
The Sisters of St. Francis Assumption Food Pantry and the Ronald McDonald House were among the nonprofits that benefited from the generosity of the private philanthropist.
Billy Fuccillo was very kind. He contributed a lot to this neighborhood. His absence will be felt, “Member of the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association’s board Mike Romano spoke.
He was a great man “stated Albanese. “One day, as I’m sitting here, two men wheel in a TV that I received as a friendship gift from him. He was just a very kind man.
His absence will be felt in this community, “Albanese went on. “He and my brother and I were extremely close friends, and we will both miss him terribly.
The Thomas J. Pirro Junior Funeral Home in Liverpool will host a wake from 3 to 7 p.m. on June 24. On June 25, Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Syracuse will host a funeral Mass at 11 a.m.