Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet was a Chevrolet dealership located in Elmhurst, Illinois. Advertised that it was the "#1 Chevy dealer in the nation", it was owned by Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson and operated at the corner of York and Roosevelt roads from February 1968 to October 2000.[1]

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,"[2] 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. Its commercials have been noted by the Chicago Tribune as memorable for all who grew up with them.[3]

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!")[4]

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.[5] 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 has built a major medical center there to replace the current Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.[6] 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.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Where You Always Save More Money!". Chicago Sun-Times. 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  2. ↑ Channick, Robert (2019-03-14). "Whole town's talking about how Tesla may doom dealerships as 'Webb boys' make $20 million showroom bet". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  3. ↑ Tribune Staff (2014-03-27). "Videos: Memorable Chicago television commercials". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  4. ↑ gtp2day (2007-10-23). Chicagoland Pizza Hut Commercial 1991. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2020-10-18.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Tribune Staff (2000-09-20). "Elmhurst Chevy Dealership Sold, Ending 32-Year Run". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  6. ↑ "New Campus at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare". Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009.
  7. ↑ Davis, Kevin (Aug 30, 2003). "Death of a sales pitch". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved Jan 4, 2017.
  8. ↑ Savini, Dave (Feb 28, 2002). "Car Dealer Celozzi Explains Financial Losses". NBC 5 Chicago. Archived from the original on August 4, 2002.
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