1992
In 1992, Paul bought a struggling Jeep store which also sold Lincoln, Mercury, and Eagle. It was previously owned by his uncle Russell who opened it in 1957 as a Hudson gas station.
In 1992, the Grand Cherokee made its debut, setting a new standard for SUVs worldwide and quickly becoming the best-selling SUV in the world. A year later, the World Wide Web became available to the broader public.
1997
In 1997, Paul was looking for new franchises. He opened a new dealership, Subaru of Wilton, in a tiny facility. Having owned a used Subaru in college, Paul leaped at the opportunity to sell and service the relatively unknown, gritty, little Subaru brand. The parking lot held 20 vehicles (including those of our customers). At the end of 2000, we had sold 200 vehicles.
In 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest- ever golfer to win the Masters at 21 years old. Subaru introduced the Forester in 1998. It was smaller than the Outback but larger than the Impreza.
2002
In 2002, Paul purchased Fairfield County CJD in Norwalk, CT, and renamed it Georgetown CJD.
The PT Cruiser, a distinctive blend of retro design and modern functionality, hit the road in 2002, instantly turning heads with its unique style. Nokia was the king of phone manufacturers during this time.
2005
We recognized the need for a larger facility, and Subaru was relocated to Norwalk, where we changed our name to Georgetown Subaru. The facility was previously the site of Space Age Printing, you can still find remnants of the old printing press back in the Parts Department in “the dungeon room.”
As we entered the town of Norwalk, we brought our community values and launched our Community Partner Program.
In 2005, the average price for a gallon of gas was $2.30. A year earlier, the Jeep Brand offered a “stretched” version of the TJ, Wrangler Unlimited. This expanded the iconic Wrangler's appeal with added space and versatility.
2009
The recession was tough for a lot of people and car dealerships. 1 in 4 Chrysler franchises closed that year. At first, Paul got a letter saying to send back the cars. A few days before Christmas, Paul received a letter saying that the business was allowed to stay open. It was a Christmas miracle. We survived with the help of our leadership, employees, and our community. In the time since Paul has owned the store, Chrysler Motors changed ownership four times and once filed bankruptcy. It has been named: American Motor Car (AMC), Daimler Chrysler Group, Cerberus Capital, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
From 2009-2022, Subaru was the only brand in America to have a sales increase every year. "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas was the No.1 Billboard hit in 2009.
2012
Name change! We rebranded Georgetown Subaru and Georgetown Jeep to Garavel in 2012. It was a year’s long realization that our name was our brand!
In 2011, a tsunami in Japan caused a disruption in supply. Subaru ended the month with zero cars. The same year "Harry Potter" wrapped up its decade-long journey with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," bringing an epic showdown.
2014
Garavel Jeep became CT’s #1 Chrysler Group store and Dealer Rater dealer of the year! Subaru experienced similar success and became one of the busiest Subaru service centers in the Northeast and Subaru of New England's de facto #1 dealership of 65 in customer service.
In 2014, Facebook users rallied together, sharing over 17 million videos as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral campaign that raised awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
2015
Both CJD and Subaru stores experienced extensive renovations adding air conditioning, new equipment, and additional service capacity.
The 2015 Jeep Renegade marked the brand’s first entry into the small SUV market! The same year, a gallon of milk cost $3.42.
2022
We moved again! But this time to a more sustainable and larger facility at 520 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851. The facility was purpose-built on a 4.5 acre lot and 50,000 ft indoors. There are 267 solar panels and 3,000 gallons of waste oil recycled for heat. In 2021, Garavel Auto Group had sold over 3,400 cars.
In 2022, The Jeep Wrangler 4xe quickly became America’s best-selling plug-in hybrid. The world’s population reached 8 billion people for the first time!