Tilman Fertitta is looking to expand his automotive empire by acquiring a Houston-area dealership for Chevrolet, the company’s first non-luxury car brand.
Fertitta Automotive Group, a recently formed division of the Texas billionaire’s vast business empire, has acquired Norman Frede Chevrolet in Clear Lake for an undisclosed amount. The dealership will be rebranded as Fertitta Chevrolet and will keep all of its current employees employed, the company told the Houston Business Journal, which first reported the news.
The Chevrolet purchase marks a departure from the car brands typically owned by the well-known casino mogul, who also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets and a restaurant empire. Fertitta Automotive also operates Post Oak Motor Cars, which sells ultra-luxury brands such as Bentley, Bugatti and Rolls-Royce at stores near the Post Oak Hotel in Uptown and in The Woodlands.
“For nearly 50 years, Norman Frede Chevrolet has been a well-respected and trusted presence in the Houston area’s automotive industry,” Fertitta dealership operator Ronnie Souza said in a news release. “The Fertitta family treats every customer like family and is dedicated to providing the same level of respect and service that has made every previous business successful.”
Souza said the Fertitta Auto conglomerate has been looking to expand into the non-luxury vehicle sector for years and has looked at various ventures in the Houston area and around the country. The Norman Frede Chevrolet dealership was just the right opportunity at the right time, Souza told the Business Journal.
The billionaire businessman is also looking to expand his sports empire and is hoping to bring an NHL team to the Bayou City. In February, Fertitta told Bloomberg News he was “in negotiations” with the league about bringing a hockey team to Houston, a proposal he believes could revitalize the city’s downtown district.