For over 60 years, Buckalew Chevrolet was a trusted name in Montgomery County. So when Keating Auto Group purchased the store a year ago, it raised questions among longtime customers.
Keating Chevrolet understands those concerns and wants to assure the community that the dealership’s commitment to service and local roots remains strong.
Have questions about the new ownership or just hearing about it for the first time? Continue reading to hear from leadership and discover how the dealership is building on its legacy, giving back to the community and rolling out updates.
A strategic move with local ties
Keating Auto Group, founded 25 years ago by President and CEO Ben Keating, has expanded across Texas. From Port Lavaca to Victoria, Boerne to College Station, the company operates 33 locations under the Keating name, with 16 brands including Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and more.
Expanding into Montgomery County was a natural next step, given the area’s growth and community ties.
“This was the right spot at the right time,” Managing Partner Chip Watkins said. “We see this corridor continuing to grow, and we want to grow with it.”
The decision felt personal, as the ownership group has deep roots in the area. Keating and partner Don Whitaker attended school in Tomball, while partner Steven Lidsey graduated from Klein Oak High School. Many employees live in Montgomery County and nearby, giving the team insight into the needs of local families.
Expanding community support
After acquiring Buckalew Chevrolet, a top priority was maintaining existing relationships. The dealership continued school partnerships, sponsorships and chamber involvement.
In the past year, they’ve also expanded their reach. Recent community involvement included:
- Sponsoring The Woodlands Marathon
- Prime sponsor for Conroe Area Youth Baseball
- Supporting youth flag football leagues
- Partnering with a Conroe-area soccer organization
“We’ve created a winning organization by serving people,” Watkins said. “You build trust one relationship at a time, showing them they can rely on us.”
Behind-the-scenes improvements
As Montgomery County grew, dealership leaders recognized the need for improvements. Recent enhancements included:
- Adding a dozen service lifts
- Increasing service department staffing
- Expanding reconditioning capacity
- Improving the layout for easier access
- Adding support staff to streamline appointments
“We value our customers’ time and money,” leadership said. “They want a professional experience and a relationship with their dealer, and we do everything to provide that.”
Dive deeper
In this article, we’ve discussed a major aspect of Keating Chevrolet’s business—building strong relationships with customers and the community. An equally important part of the experience is the vehicles. To explore what’s available, click here.
Still have questions or want to see it for yourself? Visit the dealership at 1100 Interstate 45 S., Conroe, or call 832-669-9976. The team is ready to welcome you and answer your questions.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.