A History of Curry Automotive

Curry 1919

 

Curry Automotive is proud to be a family-owned business whose history covers over 100 years of continued growth, progress, and service to many communities. Curry Automotive is now a Nationwide Automotive retailer with 650 employees in 12 factory authorized franchised new car dealerships in three different states. There are currently franchises in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.


In 1919, we opened our first automobile dealership in New York City, the Curry Chevrolet Sales and Service Center, which became one of the largest in the world.

 

In 1956, Curry constructed and opened a Chevrolet dealership in Scarsdale, New York.  Curry Chevrolet has been a fixture in lower Westchester for many years and is highly regarded not only for its history but also for its continued high levels of service and satisfaction within its community.

 

In 1975, a motorcycle franchise was acquired, followed a year later by the opening of Curry Honda in Yorktown Heights, New York to meet the ever-increasing demand for import cars.

 

In 1980, another major dealership facility was opened in Scarsdale, New York.  What started out as Scarsdale Dodge became Curry Acura in 1988.  Our Curry Acura dealership prides itself on being one of the outstanding Acura dealerships in the area and boasts excellence in sales and service, as evidenced by being the winner of the Acura Precision Team Award over 18 times.

 

In 1998, an exciting opportunity in Chicopee, Massachusetts became a welcome addition to the family of Curry Dealerships.  Curry Honda was one of the first Honda Image III stores in the country and continues to thrive in its quest for excellence.

 

In 2007, we relocated Curry Subaru to Cortlandt Manor to be part of an entirely new automotive shopping complex, which includes Curry Hyundai, Curry Subaru and Curry Toyota.

In 2010, Curry acquired a Nissan dealership, and moved it to Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Curry Nissan has proven to be a highly successful enterprise, winning the Nissan Award of Excellence over 6 times.

 

In 2011 and 2012, we became the first LEED® Certified (green) automobile dealership in the area when we upgraded Curry Toyota, Curry Subaru and Curry Hyundai in Cortlandt Manor.  Curry Automotive has made a commitment to be environmentally conscious in all business practices.

 

In 2015, Curry Automotive acquired two Mercedes-Benz Centers in the New York Tri-State Region. These include Mercedes-Benz of Wappingers Falls and Mercedes-Benz of Danbury, both with their Sprinter commercial vehicle line ups. In the acquisition, Curry Automotive also obtained Silver Star Auto Collision, located in Danbury, CT, specializing in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

 

In 2023, Curry Subaru Kingston joined our family of dealerships.  Located in the scenic Kingston area of Ulster County, New York, this dealership has proven to be a welcome addition to our organization.

 

Later in 2023, Curry Automotive was among the first in the U.S. to be selected to offer the Ineos Grenadier line of rugged, yet refined, ultra-capable 4x4 automobiles to its customers.  Curry Ineos Grenadier opened in Danbury, Connecticut, starting an exciting new chapter in our company's growth.

 

Continued growth and strategic expansion can be seen throughout our history. Having reached our Centennial Anniversary and realizing the accomplishment of successfully operating for 100 years we continue our commitment to provide the best service to our customers.



 

 
Press release
May 17, 2005
CURRY AUTOMOTIVE SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN TO
BUILD MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN IN WESTCHESTER

Local Auto Dealer Devises Creative Fund raising Program to Benefit Westchester Children's Museum.



Bernard F Curry III Continues with the family tradition of giving 87 years later

 

  

    Since 1919, Curry Automotive has been giving back to the community by supporting various local causes. Eighty-five years later, Bernard F Curry III, president of Curry Automotive, is continuing in the family tradition.     During a Casino Night held by the Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education, Bernard F Curry III was honored for his generous donation of $75,000. The entire evening was dedicated to enriching the education of the students through donation, dinner and dancing. With the money donated by Curry, Yorktown High School students will have a state of the art weight room to train in so that all athletes from every sport can pursue athletic ambitions. Bernard F Curry is an avid fitness and sports enthusiast who believes that a fit and sound body is the foundation of a successful student.


    As corporate sponsorship continues to dwindle on the community level, the acts of kindness made by Bernard F Curry III, such as the most recent on Saturday February 4th, will continue to inspire and awe individuals touched by his thoughtful humanity.


   As the guest of honor, Bernard F Curry's charitable donation was recognized with an engraved glass clock awarded by the Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education. In his absence, Bob Carinci, Director of Operations for all curry dealerships and Dave Girolamo, General Manager of Curry Honda in Yorktown Heights, were present to accept the gifts.

 

    Awards aren't new for Curry Automotive. Dave Girolamo and his team of professionals at Curry Honda were awarded their ninth Presidents Award from Honda. The Presidents Award is only awarded to the best Honda Dealers, and out of over 1000 Honda Dealers nationwide, only a handful have won the award as many as nine times.  This is truly a noteworthy accomplishment and an undertaking that General Manager Dave Girolamo and his staff take very seriously.

 

     Additionally, Mike Miele, General Manager of Curry Acura on Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale just announced that Curry Acura was recently named a recipient of the prestigious Acura Precision Team Award for its exceptional performance during 2005. This distinguished honor is reserved for only those select dealerships that excel in all facets of their operations, including customer satisfaction, service, and sales. Curry Acura is the only New York dealer that has met or exceeded the award standards established by Acura, for an unprecedented sixth time. The precision Team award is the most prestigious award that an Acura dealership can earn.


    "Winners of the Precision Team Award are the very best dealerships in the country" said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Acura Sales. They are the best in terms of the standards we set, standards that were designed to exceed the expectations of even our most discriminating customers. "Our award winning dealerships can be recognized by the Precision Team symbol or logo you see proudly throughout  their facilities" Colliver continued "and by the exceptional and personal customer care delivered to each and every customer who visits that dealership."


     Curry Automotive is comprised of seven franchises in Westchester. Curry Acura, and Curry Chevrolet on Central Avenue in Scarsdale, Curry Toyota, Curry Subaru, and Curry Hyundai on Route 6 in Cortlandt manor and Curry Honda and Curry Nissan on Rt 202 in Yorktown Heights as well as Curry Honda and Curry Subaru in Chicopee Massachusetts. Although this is Yorktown School District's first corporate sponsor, it is certinly not Curry Automotive's first charitable act. In August of 2005, Bernard F Curry III donated $68,900 to the Westchester's Childrens Museum to be constructed at Rye Playland. In addition, Bernard F Curry III has collaborated with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Dystrophic Epidermolysss Bullosa Research Association of America, the American Cancer society, and the Rye Youth Council.  



Bernard F. Curry III, CEO/owner, of Curry Automotive, together with Melissa Schoen,
President of the Westchester Children's Museum, announced today an unprecedented fundraising
partnership in which the Curry Auto Group will donate $50 for every car sold or leased at its
Westchester dealerships during the months of June and July, to the campaign to build a museum
for children in Westchester. The fundraising program officially launches on June 1, and
concludes on July 31, 2005. Curry has dealerships in Scarsdale and Yorktown Heights.


"Curry Automotive has been part of Westchester County since 1921, and my own family
has a history here that dates even further back. I believe that the value that a museum for children
can bring to Westchester County cannot be underscored, in terms of economic, social, and
educational impact," states Bernard F. Curry III. "I couldn't be more delighted to put the
Curry Automotive name behind this endeavor, and I hope that it will encourage other local Westchester
retailers, banks, developers, and businesses to find creative ways in which to give their support."


Curry Automotive gives back to the community

"On the Boardwalk" Masked Ball Gala a Great Success! Event Raised Over $500,000 for the Westchester Children's Museum

     Over 400 enthusiastic supporters of the future Westchester Children's Museum (WCM) attended the On the Boardwalk Masked Ball on October 13th at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, and raised over $500,000 for the Campaign for the Westchester's Children's Museum.

     Cynthia Foster Curry and Bernard F. Curry III is the Owner and Chief Executive of Curry Automotive which has been family owned and operated since 1919 with 13 new car franchises in Westchester County as well as franchises in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

     "This event demonstrated a strong community support for the WCM, and will enable us to build a world-class museum for our children and the children of this country for generations to come," commented Corinne Zola, President of the WCM Board of Directors. "This gala was an unprecedented success, it was a sold out event and it doubled the amount of funds raised from the previous year. Quite a Remarkable achievement!?"
 
About the Westchester Children's Museum. With a goal of opening in 2009 in the historic landmark Bathhouses at Rye Playland on Long Island Sound, the Westchester Children's Museum is currently in the midst of a Campaign to raise $7 million in funds over the next two years with support from individuals, businesses, and Westchester County.

    The County has allocated funds to restore the exterior of the Bathhouses and bring the buildings up to current code in anticipation of constructing a public-use facility. Upon completion of the County's remediation and restoration of the site, the Westchester Children's Museum will begin building out the interior as the new museum.

    "We have the enthusiastic support of Country Executive Andy Spano and members of the Board of Legislators. Our goal at this time is to raise funds necessary to create the world-class facility that we envision, and to sustain its existance for generations to come," Ms. Zola added.

    Once open, the Westchester Children's Museum will be a vibrant hands-on learning laboratory where children and their families, caregivers, or teachers can explore the history, arts, environment, and cultural diversity of our regional and global communities. The iconic pavilions will provide nearly 38,000 square feet for temporary and permanent exhibits, classrooms, a birthday party room, performance space, restaurant/cafe, gift shop, and other amenities.


For more information about the Westchester Children's Museum, call 914-421-5050 or visit www.discoverWCM.org.