AUTO GROUP
Bonnell’s management team includes, front row, from left: Owner Scott Bonnell, Rod Shop Manager Phil Palmer and Auto Glass Manager Noel Kriess, CPM. Back row, from left: Erie Collision Center Manager Nick Bonnell, Operations Manager Jody Barto, Auto Sales Manager Jim Dwyer and Fairview Collision Center Manager Bob Giacomelli.
WHERE CUSTOMERS DESERVE THE VERY BEST
The operation now known as Bonnell’s Collision Center was established in 1992 at a former historical site in Fairview Township. Since that time, Bonnell’s Auto Group has grown into four major divisions — Collision Center, Auto Sales, Auto Glass, and Rod Shop — with locations based in both Fairview and Erie, Pennsylvania.
As soon as you walk through the doors at Bonnell’s Collision Center, you know you’re dealing with professionals. From antique gas pumps and oil signs to the brightly colored walls, custom artwork and gently cascading waterfall, Bonnell’s exudes a high-end feel not found in your typical auto repair business. In many ways, that’s the brilliance behind owner and founder Scott Bonnell, who not only believes but also delivers on the promise that his customers “deserve the very best.” “I’ve actually had insurance adjusters from Chicago and New York that have come here and said that they have never seen a place like this before,” says Bonnell. “And that is the feeling that I want to give my customers; I want them to feel comfortable.”
Bonnell’s professionals strive to give the most accurate estimates, taking the time to talk with customers and explaining what repairs are necessary and how much they will cost.
This sense of assurance is why so many customers, including regional car dealers like Bob Ferrando Ford and fleet-based businesses like Peterson’s Property Maintenance of Erie, have turned to Bonnell’s for their auto repair needs for upwards of 15 years or more. “I believe people choose to work with people that they can trust,” says Bonnell. “The relationship that we have with the customers is what keeps people coming back.” Bonnell, a veteran sprint car driver and longtime auto enthusiast, has spent the past 26 years building his shop’s reputation, and investing and fine-tuning his operation into one of northwest Pennsylvania’s largest and fastest-growing auto business empires. Today, Bonnell’s Auto Group includes four major divisions — Collision Center, Auto Sales, Auto Glass, and Rod Shop — with 74 employees at locations based in both Erie and Fairview Township. “Along with top-notch customer service, quality is what I strive for on each and every job,” says Bonnell. “By nature, I am a competitive person and it has transformed my business.”
A Solid Reputation Bonnell’s is a full-service auto repair facility, including body shop, glass repair shop, and a complete car wash and detail center.
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Early on in his career, Bonnell was working for a body shop in Girard, Pennsylvania when he was sold on the owner’s offer to buy his equipment and buy him out of his collision repair business.