Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet
Encyclopedia
Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet was a large Chevrolet
dealership located in Elmhurst, Illinois
. Once the #1 Chevy dealer in the country, it was owned by Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson and operated at the corner of York and Roosevelt Roads in this suburban Chicago
city from February 1968 to October 2000.
Well known for its local TV commercials featuring the owners displaying a large amount of cash in hand and advertising the dealership as the place "Where you always save more money," the dealership was originally Zepalack Chevrolet, and the actual address was 155 E. Roosevelt Road, although there was no direct access to the dealership from Roosevelt Road
. In its heyday, the dealership spent $1 million a year on television ads.
The duo became so famous that they even starred in commercials advertising other products, including Bud Light and Pizza Hut
(revising their tagline to say "Where you always get great pepperoni!")
Celozzi and Ettleson sold the dealership and parted ways in 2000. Gabor Bushy, who was the owner of Suburban Buick
in nearby Wheaton, Illinois
, purchased the dealership and renamed it Elmhurst Chevrolet. Several years later, the dealership relocated farther west on Roosevelt Road and became Villa Park Chevrolet (currently Castle Chevrolet of Villa Park). The building that was "Hard to find, but tough to beat" has since been demolished. Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare is currently building a major medical center there to replace the current Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. The site was annexed into Elmhurst, Illinois on March 3, 2008.
Ettleson currently owns Ettleson Cadillac-Buick-GMC and Ettleson Hyundai in Hodgkins
with his son Michael Ettleson. Celozzi owned Celozzi Ford and Celozzi Chrysler in Waukegan
until 2003, when he was forced to declare bankruptcy and shutter the dealerships after one of his former business partners was indicted on fraud charges.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
dealership located in Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
. Once the #1 Chevy dealer in the country, it was owned by Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson and operated at the corner of York and Roosevelt Roads in this suburban Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
city from February 1968 to October 2000.
Well known for its local TV commercials featuring the owners displaying a large amount of cash in hand and advertising the dealership as the place "Where you always save more money," the dealership was originally Zepalack Chevrolet, and the actual address was 155 E. Roosevelt Road, although there was no direct access to the dealership from Roosevelt Road
Roosevelt Road
Roosevelt Road is a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Chicago, Illinois, and its western suburbs. It is 1200 South in the city's street numbering system, but only one mile south of Madison Street...
. In its heyday, the dealership spent $1 million a year on television ads.
The duo became so famous that they even starred in commercials advertising other products, including Bud Light and Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
(revising their tagline to say "Where you always get great pepperoni!")
Celozzi and Ettleson sold the dealership and parted ways in 2000. Gabor Bushy, who was the owner of Suburban Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
in nearby Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, purchased the dealership and renamed it Elmhurst Chevrolet. Several years later, the dealership relocated farther west on Roosevelt Road and became Villa Park Chevrolet (currently Castle Chevrolet of Villa Park). The building that was "Hard to find, but tough to beat" has since been demolished. Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare is currently building a major medical center there to replace the current Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. The site was annexed into Elmhurst, Illinois on March 3, 2008.
Ettleson currently owns Ettleson Cadillac-Buick-GMC and Ettleson Hyundai in Hodgkins
Hodgkins, Illinois
Hodgkins is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,134 at the 2000 census.A large United Parcel Service sorting facility, known as CACH, is located partly in Hodgkins and partly in nearby Willow Springs on the outskirts of Chicago...
with his son Michael Ettleson. Celozzi owned Celozzi Ford and Celozzi Chrysler in Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
until 2003, when he was forced to declare bankruptcy and shutter the dealerships after one of his former business partners was indicted on fraud charges.
See also
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