This week we’re chatting with Mike Romeo! He shares what has kept in him in Glens Falls (hint: it has something to do with a favorite childhood memory), as well as what he loves about the car business (you’ll recognize him from Carriage Traders and Romeo Toyota), and his favorite Friday night date night in the city.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Mike Romeo. I was born at Glens Falls Hospital in 1982.
I have been married to my wife Andrea since 2007. We have three wonderful boys - 9 year old twins Nicky and Vinny, and a 3 year old, Christian. Andrea makes my life much easier by supporting me through the long hours that I put in building the business. There is nothing more important than my family. They are always there for me through thick and thin - we always stick together.
On Life in Glens Falls
I have been in Glens Falls my entire life. I can never imagine a time when I would leave. I went to college in Pittsburgh and Michigan and really enjoyed it there, but nothing is like home for me. Just about all my friends from high school are still here and doing very well.
I grew up in the Broadacres neighborhood and live two streets from my parent’s house. We looked around when our family was growing, but ended up wanting to stay right where we were because we loved the neighborhood so much. Instead of moving, we put an upper level on our ranch for some extra bedrooms.
Some Glens Falls Favorites
My favorite thing about Glens Falls is that it has everything a big city has, but with a small city feel. We usually ride our bikes downtown to Spektor on Sunday mornings to get breakfast, and then we’ll stop in the park and hang out for a little bit.
I have loved to watch Glens Falls grow over the last decade into a wonderful food town. My wife and I are regulars at some of our favorite places downtown: Morgan and Co, The Queensbury Hotel, Farmacy, and Craft on 9. I’m so happy to be able to drive my car downtown on a Friday night and park the car with no dinner reservations. My wife and I will walk around and grab a drink and then end up somewhere else for dinner. You couldn’t do that 15 years ago. All the updates to the buildings makes me proud to be from Glens Falls.
On Life in the Car Business
My father, Len, started Carriage Traders the year I was born. So I was born into the car business. I have never had another job doing anything not car related.
My brother and I started working when we were around 10 years old at the dealership. My godfather, Jim Zappone, ran the retail end of the store and my Dad ran the wholesale end. “Zap”, as we called him, put us to work while my Dad was on the road. He had us picking up cigarettes and picking weeds. Every summer we would go into work and do something different. We got a strong foundation of all the different departments. That was a great learning experience because it showed us how hard everyone had to work, from the lot porter to the general manager.
After we finished high school we started doing what we would do for years to come - summers during college were spent wholesaling for me and Joe spent his summers selling cars on the lot. As time went on Joe was running the Buick, GMC, Chevy dealership in Kingston and I was building the wholesale department. I got the opportunity to have a number of my friends come on board and learn how to wholesale. They are still there 15 years later doing great. We now have the Buick, GMC, Chevy store, Kia store, Ford store, Carriage Traders, and now Romeo Toyota.
I was building the wholesale business until 2016 and driving about 1,000 miles a week buying cars. Then I became the GM of Carriage Traders and learned the retail end of the business. I also learned how to run a body shop and service department. Now I will be the GM of both Carriage Traders and Romeo Toyota of Glens Falls. I have a ton to learn about the new car business and look forward to it. I have the two best mentors in the new car business between my brother and father.
On the Past
My favorite Glens Falls memory is my group of friends riding our bikes around the same neighborhood that my kids do now. We had a group of about 10 kids that would just ride around and have fun all day. I wanted that for my kids, and that’s why I stayed here.
On the Future
I would love to see a nice men’s clothing store downtown. We have some great places for women to go shopping in the city but it would be excellent if someone opened a men’s store. I think it would be supported by all the locals and benefit from the tourists in the summer.
