With retirement on the horizon, Anthony Muzzillo and Michael Schreiner have found an ideal buyer for their Kamloops car dealerships.
They have signed an agreement to sell the Smith Chevrolet Cadillac and Kamloops Hyundai dealerships to the Bannister Automotive Group, a family-run business based in Kelowna.
The sale will become effective this month.
Muzzillo and Schreiner, who consider themselves “passionate car guys,” said they deeply appreciate the contribution of countless employees, customers, suppliers and community partners over the years.
“I feel great appreciation to all the people I have worked beside to make our business the success it has been,” noted Schreiner. “That success has allowed us to give back to our community.”
The General Motors dealership has been a part of both men’s family history for more than seven decades, as their fathers were employees for Senator Syd Smith and eventually his son Gordon Smith.
The duo purchased the dealership in 1970 and sold it to their sons 20 years later. In 2007, they bought Kamloops Hyundai and built a new Hyundai dealership on their Notre Dame Drive property.
“General Motors and Hyundai have been great partners for Michael and me over these many years and we have enjoyed the many relationships we have come to know,” said Muzzillo. “We believe the future looks bright for the automobile business and we wish the Bannister Group all the best.”
The Bannister family and its partners have serviced communities in Western Canada for more than 40 years and have dealerships in the Okanagan Valley, Columbia-Shuswap, Peace Region, Kootenays, Yellowhead County and the Fraser Valley.
“Our family is very humbled and honoured that Mike and Anthony chose (us) to carry on family ownership of both dealerships,” explained Mark Bannister.
Bannister said they’re excited to be part of the Kamloops and North Thompson community and are grateful to be working alongside the outstanding team members of both dealerships.
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