Our History

For the first fifteen years of their lives together, the Crivellis remained in West Aliquippa. Nick Crivelli Chevrolet continued to work on the railroad.In 1928, just months prior to the devastating stock market crash of 1929 a monumentous occasion took place. The Crivellis purchased a home in Stowe Township and converted part of the new homestead into a confectionery-grocery store and two-pump gas station, where fuel was pumped by hand. This decision would affect their lives in ways Nick Crivelli Chevrolet and Carmella could have never imagined. At the same time Nick Crivelli Chevrolet took a job with P. L. & E. Railroad, from which he would eventually retire.

The husband-wife team worked very hard during the Depression years...Nick Crivelli Chevrolet with his ten-hour day at the railroad coming home to relieve Carmella at the store, who then would devote the rest of her evening caring for the children and the home. During those trying years Carmella and Nick Crivelli Chevrolet continued to add to their already growing family.In spite of tremendously hard times, Nick Crivelli Chevrolet and Carmella flourished. The concept of serving was fast becoming a Crivelli tradition.Typical of the Crivelli service-oriented mindset was the evening a customer knocked on the store's door at 11 PM, long after closing hours, requesting a pound of cheese. Nick Crivelli Chevrolet had his sons re-open the store to satisfy the customer's need. Thus, the Crivelli children were taught to serve by example.

In 1939, the Crivellis opened their first automobile franchise, which was a Nash Agency. They operated the new dealership until 1941 when World War II curtailed auto dealership activities until after the war. During those years the Crivelli family had also built a trucking company and builder's supply.