In bidding a fond farewell, John states, “building my business was the most demanding and rewarding way that I can think of spending the past forty six years - more important than the financial rewards has been the fact that my career has allowed me to enjoy wonderful lifelong relationships with my fellow Rochester citizens, employees and manufacturers. That being said, the time is right to pursue personal and family goals that have been postponed for too long. Working with Dick Garber, Kevin Parker, and the professionals at Garber Automotive has been a pleasure and a win-win for both organizations. Thanks to our talented and dedicated employees, Garber Automotive will be ably prepared to continue and to expand upon the success of the John Holtz Organization well into the future."

John Holtz History

John Holtz has often said that there is no other business outside of the automobile business that could have held his attention for the past 46 years.

In 1965, when John began working for his father at Lou Holtz Buick, he never could have imagined the rewarding career that was about to unfold. John started out behind the scenes in the service department. When his father moved him to the service lanes to meet the public, he quickly grasped the relationship between customer needs and expectations, realizing that if you make the service experience fun and pleasant, anything is possible. After graduating from RIT, Holtz redoubled his efforts to learn every aspect of the car business while working at the Buick store and he began a writing campaign to import automobile manufacturers’ in a focused effort to become a franchised dealer.

In 1977, John realized his dream when American Honda awarded him a Honda franchise. Holtz purchased a West Henrietta Road location and opened his doors with 8 employees. By year’s end, Holtz had become Western New York’s #1 Volume Honda Dealer, a record held by John Holtz Honda for the past 34 years.

The Mazda franchise was acquired in 1983. Three years later, John Holtz became one of the first fifty Acura dealers in the nation. Porsche and Audi were added to the portfolio in 1990. As a multi-franchise dealer in five Rochester locations, John Holtz and his team of professionals have received a number of regional and national industry awards, making Holtz House of Vehicles one of New York State’s most recognizable and respected dealer names.