Stockies make return to local auto scene

Gary Stockie and his son, Adam, are part of a group that has acquired Waterloo Dodge

WATERLOO — A familiar face in the automotive business is back.

Gary Stockie and his son, Adam, along with Finch Auto Group, have acquired the Waterloo Dodge dealership on Weber Street South near Union Street. Formerly owned by Dean Myers, it has been rebranded as Stockie Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Gary will take on the role of dealer principal, essentially the face of the business, with Adam serving as managing partner.

“It sort of gives me a new lease on life, so to speak,” Gary said. “It’s kind of nice to be back in the saddle, and regain some of what we lost.”

In the auto business since 1973, the longtime General Motors dealer had the rug pulled out from under him in 2009 when the financially embattled automaker shuttered his Kitchener Chevrolet franchise and more than 200 others across Canada.

Fresh from a 15-year run at the helm of a Stratford dealership, he’d only owned the Kitchener location for a little over a year before being told it would close. “We lost everything we ever worked for,” Gary said.

A stint selling Mitsubishis from the large property was short-lived; Stockie turned his attention to a dealers’ class action lawsuit against GM Canada (which was ultimately dismissed) and subsequent legal proceedings, while doing some work in auto wholesaling. “It’s been pretty hard,” he admitted.

But the new acquisition gives him renewed focus. “We had a very good name in the industry,” Gary said. Former customers he’d run into would ask when he was coming back. “This could be a revival for us ... We can have some fun selling cars and looking after people.”

His son Adam had been working for the past seven years at a Mercedes-Benz location in London operated by Finch Auto Group and his brother, Rob. “I’m excited for the opportunity,” Adam said, noting it marks a return to his roots in Waterloo.

Finch Auto Group is involved in dealerships in London, Georgetown, Newmarket and now Waterloo.

Stockie Chrysler currently employs about 20 people, but Adam expects that to grow.

Adam said this move is “huge” for his father. “He’s excited to be back involved in the community again,” he said. “Having his name in lights again is pretty exciting.”