East Syracuse Chevrolet has a new owner in 25-year employee Gino Barbuto.
Barbuto became the fourth owner in the dealership’s 82-year history on Thursday when he closed on purchasing the dealership from Sidney M. Greenberg, who has owned East Syracuse Chevrolet since 1982.
“From the day Gino started at East Syracuse Chevrolet, I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about him — from customers, supervisors, coworkers and business associates,” Greenberg said. “That has continued to this day, after 25 years of service. He is the perfect person to carry on the East Syracuse Chevrolet name.”
Barbuto started at the dealership as a service advisor in 1986 before being named service manager in 1992. He took an open management position in the sales department in 1998 as new car manager. When he later moved to used car sales manager, he transformed the department. Barbuto was named general manager in 2009 and became an operating partner in April 2010.
Barbuto’s purchase of East Syracuse Chevrolet was the realization of the American Dream, he said.
The dealership’s new owner was born in Calabria, Italy, in 1966, and his family immigrated to Syracuse in 1970. Barbuto began kindergarten at Holy Trinity Elementary School speaking very little English. He would go on to attend Henninger High School and excel at soccer.
Barbuto earned an associates degree in applied science from Herkimer Community College, where he majored in automotive technology and minored in business.
“At East Syracuse Chevrolet, I worked my way up from service advisor to manager, to general manager to operating partner, to dealer in 25 years,” he said. “I’m indebted to Mr. Greenberg for all he has done for me through the years and to my family for offering so much encouragement and support.”
Greenberg, who began as an employee at East Syracuse Chevrolet in 1949 following graduation from Syracuse University, will continue to play an active role at the dealership.
Barbuto takes over the dealership at a time of growth for Chevrolet, now the number one brand in Central New York. He has been working on plans to upgrade the current facility that opened in 1986.
The façade and showroom space will undergo a major change in the next several months. Barbuto also has plans to add a business center and expects to further expand the dealership’s used car business.
Barbuto and his wife, Karen, have three sons: Jason, a junior at the College at Brockport; Jeremy, a senior at East Syracuse-Minoa High School; and Cody, an eighth grader at Pine Grove Middle School.
