Bogdewic lived 'American dream'

BENTLEYVILLE -- Bruno Bogdewic has been living a dream -- his dream -- for the past 50 years.

That dream will be marked Thursday, the 50th anniversary of B. Bogdewic Chevrolet in Bentleyville. Quite an accomplishment for the son of an immigrant coal miner, Bogdewic believes.

"All I had was a high school education and all of the sudden I owned a business, and a good business," Bogdewic said. "I lived the American dream."

The site along Main Street in Bentleyville has actually been home to a car dealership for 90 years. It was there that Frank Yenko opened a Durant dealership in 1918.

Bogdewic began working for him just after he got out of the service in 1945. Bogdewic went to school with Don Yenko, Frank's son, and the two played together in a dance band.

A four-story appliance store owned by the Yenkos was located next door, and Bogdewic delivered appliances. He also did some work on cars. He eventually worked in the parts department and even went with Don Yenko to set up the parts department, ultimately becoming the parts manager at Yenko Chevrolet.

He eventually got into sales.

"Mr. Yenko asked me to get into sales," Bogdewic said. "I was reluctant because I knew parts. But he promised me that if it did not work out, I could go back to parts.

"We'll, I never went back."

Instead, he succeeded so much that by 1958 Chevrolet asked him if he was interested in the dealership.

"I came in and it was the American dream," Bogdewic said.

Originally named Central Garage, it was officially named B. Bogdewic Chevrolet in May 1963.

One thing B. Bogdewic prides itself on is the longevity of its employees.

Jim "Cack" Costantino, who heads the new car department and is the sales and Internet manager, has been with the dealership for 25 years.

Controller/office manager Lee Ann Bular is a 22 veteran of the business.

Jim "Spanky" Skirpan heads the used care wholesale and manages advertising. He has been with B. Bogdewic for 20 years.

Chuck Verno is marking his 20th year. He heads up the finance, insurance and extended service contract departments.

Brady LeJohn oversees new car and truck inventories, having been with the dealership for 14 years.

Head technician Bob "Red" Van Divner has worked there for 27 years.

"I was a young man when I started here," Van Divner said with a laugh.

"Me, too," Bogdewic replied.

There is a picnic bench in the lounge area of the dealership, used by employees and customers alike. That it has become a part of the dealership speaks well of the relationship the dealership has with its customers.

About 25 years ago, a customer from Belle Vernon made a unique offer -- he would build four picnic benches and provide them as a down payment toward a new vehicle he wanted to buy. Three of them were given to employees, but a forth -- made for Bruno Bogdewic -- remained in the dealership. He tried taking it home -- once.

"A lady came up to me and asked 'Mr. Bogdewic, where is that picnic bench. That belongs here more than you,'" he recalled with a hearty laugh.

There was a time, Bogdewic recalls, when the unveiling of the new models, was big news for dealerships. The vehicles would be placed outside in front of the dealership under a blanket that would be removed at the unveiling.

Bogdewic liked to place an old junker under a blanket that was too tempting for some more curious passersby. They would sneak a peak only to find the joke was on them.

Bruno's son, Chip Bogdewic, began washing cars when he was 13. He joined the dealership full time after graduating from Wheeling College in 1974. On Jan. 17, 1986, he became the dealer operator and assumed part control of the business operations of the family-owned business. Bruno Bogdewic's wife, Marge, served as secretary/treasurer.

The self-proclaimed "Home of the Little Guys" has endured because of the way it treats its customers, such as the outdoor cookout that will mark B. Bogdewic's 50th anniversary.