LI auto group expands with N.J. acquisition

Huntington-based Empire Automotive Group has acquired the Crystal Auto Mall, a Toyota and Mazda dealership in New Jersey’s Green Brook Township. 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Opened in 1988 by Robert Nitabach and Michael Rendine, Crystal Auto Mall has been a popular destination for car shoppers along the dealership corridor on Route 22. The owners had engaged the Dave Cantin Group, a Manhattan-based financial advisory firm specializing in automotive and other transportation dealership mergers and acquisitions, to advise on a potential transaction and succession plan leading up Rendine’s death in February. 

Fast-growing Empire Auto Group, owned and operated by Michael Brown, has been expanding since Brown acquired his first seven dealerships four years ago. The newest acquisition is the group’s second Toyota and Mazda dealerships and its first stores in New Jersey.  

Empire now has 21 dealerships with 19 located throughout Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Westchester counties, with franchises from Toyota, Mazda, Audi, CDJR, Ford, Honda, Subaru, Lincoln, Infiniti, Hyundai, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Volvo, Chevrolet and Nissan. 

“We are proud to have assisted Empire Auto Group in their acquisition of the Crystal Toyota and Crystal Mazda dealerships,” Cantin said in a company statement. “This further positions Empire to grow their business fueled by strong performance with consumers and great partnerships with their OEM partners. Michael is truly one of the best new operators in the business and it’s a pleasure to assist the expansion of his business.” 

Brown credited the Dave Cantin Group’s industry expertise in assisting in closing the New Jersey acquisition.  

“We look forward to working with DCG on future strategic acquisition opportunities as we continue to expand,” he said. 

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