Over 100 Years Serving Chicagoland
In 1873, three brothers, John, Wilhelm, & Joseph Bredemann, immigrated to the United States from Germany and settled in Jefferson City, Missouri. They were skilled blacksmiths who built wagons for the dairy industry. Two of the brothers decided to stay in Missouri, while Joseph moved to the Milwaukee area to expand their operations. Five years later, Joseph moved to Chicago and set up operations there. Wilhelm later joined Joseph in Chicago. When Joseph was injured and could no longer build wagons, he found work with G.D. Searle selling medicine door-to-door on the north side of Chicago. His son Joseph Jr. later joined him in the business.
Joseph Jr. had a summer home in Michigan. He soon learned that his neighbor was a car dealer in Holland, Michigan. The neighbor asked Joseph if he would be interested in selling cars to his medicine clients in Chicago. He agreed, and they began shipping cars on a freighter from Holland, Michigan to Navy Pier where Joseph Jr. would deliver them. He soon became the top salesperson for the Michigan dealer, catching the attention of the Busse family, who owned Buick dealerships in Mount Prospect and later Park Ridge. They contacted Joseph and recruited him to sell for them in Park Ridge.
In a short period of time, Joseph Jr. became the Busse dealerships' top salesperson and eventually became a partner, thus forming Busse-Bredemann Buick. He eventually bought out the other partners.
Joseph III started working with his father at Busse-Bredemann Buick while he was still in high school. He started full time in 1950 after military service and college, and worked until his death in February 2014. The children of Joseph III followed in their father's footsteps, starting in 1978 with Joseph IV, Tom in 1982, son-in-law Steve Travnik in 1983, Marty in 1986, John in 1990 and his granddaughter Katie (the fourth generation) in 2009.
Most family businesses only last through one generation. Even fewer become second generation family businesses. The Bredemann Family of Dealerships not only celebrated their 100th year in business in 2012, but they also have the fourth generation of the family working there.
Our customers' satisfaction is our highest priority. Being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind and cheerful are the core values we hold ourselves and our employees to.
