This page is now closed, also the business is closed, owner retired.
05/31/2024
As many of you may already know, today marks the official end of our long journey as Thrasher Sales and Leasing. Growing up and working at “Kennedy’s”, as it’s still commonly called, I have been absolutely blessed. The 30+ years I’ve spent working there, I gained far more than just a paycheque. The knowledge gained from working with some of the best people in the industry (past and present), the people I’ve had the pleasure to meet, and the friendships that have come from meeting those people….I’m absolutely grateful for. I want to personally thank everyone for the many years of support, and for making our “big enough to serve, small enough to care” “house that service built” what it was throughout its existence. Without you, I wouldn’t have all of these things to be grateful for.
I’m looking forward to embarking on my next journey, working in sales at Joe Meloche Ford. I’m as happy to be working for another local family run business, as I am to be able to stay here in Amherstburg to do so. If there’s anything I can help you with in the future, please let me know!
Thank you all again!!!
When one door closes, another door opens…
05/31/2024
End of an Era, May 31, 2024
Today the doors at Thrasher sales will close for the final time. We just want to say thank you for the decades of customer support and loyalty, but most of all, a huge shout out of thanks to the many great staff members who carried this business through the ups and downs. I am also very proud of the fact, that I personally got the chance to work for the first dealer Murray Kennedy. Great man who gave my Father the opportunity to fulfill his dream of owning the business. My Father led this team for decades with great pride and respect of his staff and customers. I don't want to mention any names of past and present staff for fear of forgetting anyone. I will never forget any of them. They all have touched my life and for that I am very grateful and can say they all are like Family to me. So as we all move on to the next stage in our lives, I wish everyone nothing but happiness and satisfaction in this new journey.
To Amherstburg, our community, who we have supported in so many ways, I can't thank you enough. Being born and raised here, I was always proud of my Town and will be forever.
Again thank you all, happy trails as they say. This is not goodbye but hello again to my Wife Robin and kids and Grandkids!!
Sincerely Ken Thrasher
05/08/2024
The inconvenience of growth. With so much construction going on in this Town, rate payers and businesses are having to deal with constant power outages and also internet problems.
Send a message to learn more
04/27/2024
Last service loaner! Great buy, you safety & you save.
2011 Chev Equinox LT , was service loaner, you safety you save, $$6000 & tax & lic. Not many left!!
04/18/2024
Free to good home, commercial coffee maker, everything works and will save your change for you! Come and get it, again FREE!
04/17/2024
Beautiful Lady, Our condolences to the entire Family.
04/15/2024
The world lost an angel today, one Mary Catherine Smeltzer. She will be missed by many, she was truly an angel. Our condolences to the entire Family.
04/11/2024
Also reduced $2800, now selling at $21,979 & tax & lic, 2019 Rogue SV AWD, very clean and nicely equipped.
04/11/2024
Reduced another $3000, now selling safetied for $23,979, 2020 SV AWD rogue, only 60,000 kms & tax & lic.
04/09/2024
We are still here, will be for awhile, still serving our customers, Receive $10 off this price, just add your oil, filter, environmental & taxes. Our way of saying thank you for all the years of support. Also still detailing cars on Mondays & Wednesday.
04/09/2024
2011 Chev Equinox LT , was service loaner, you safety you save, $$6000 & tax & lic. Not many left!!
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A longstanding Amherstburg Staple previously operating as Kennedy Chev Olds.
In the late 1950’s a new hire came along his name, Les Thrasher. Working part time as a crane operator he took a part time shift selling Chevrolet products for Murray Kennedy. A short while later Les decided he’d leave the Cranes behind to work full time at the Dealership. Through the years, Les’s son’s Pat and Ken had also worked at the dealership in various roles. Ken departed in favour of a local Chemical Plant, only to return in 1984, when Murray had given Les the opportunity to purchase the Dealership. With the help of his Son’s Les continued down the path forged by Murray. Providing customers with Fair dealings, and a top tier Service.
In 2001 after GM imposed a substantial investment to the Building, Les decided he’d change the business name from Kennedy Chev Olds to Thrasher Chevrolet Ltd. This same year, the Family/Team suffered the loss of Les’s eldest son Pat. At the young age of 46 Pat fell victim to a short battle with Cancer. Pat left us all far to young, but with so much to build from and be thankful for, we remember him often, and well.
Les’s Son Ken shortly thereafter stepped up and took the reigns. Those he still holds today. In 2009 through the bailout crisis, GM of Canada proposed to shed 217 Dealers nationally in an effort to qualify for a Government Bailout. It was a terrible time in our History and left us a big blow to absorb, as we had been notified GM of Canada would not be renewing our contract as a Franchise beyond October 2010. We then contacted GM and parted ways, rather then wait another year in a strained relationship.
From here Ken rallied the troops to explain it was not GM that made us who we are, and it’s not been GM that’s served our Customers all these years. It’s been us! We therefore decided to forge a new path as an independent Used Car Dealer. From here we embraced the Internet and the idea that if you buy good Clean Cars and price them to sell, that they will! That all brings us full circle to today. We Proudly still retain a lot of the same team, even as far back as those Murray Kennedy days. Given we’ve been able to retain a World Class team, we’ve also been able to retain our World Class Customer base! To them we pledge to provide that same Service and Experience that’s led them back time and time again.
We’ve since been able to acquire another generational staple across town, known to its patrons as Malden Automotive. A CARQUEST Auto parts store. After doing this we rebranded our Service Facility as a TechNet Service Garage.
A third Generation of Thrasher is nearing the helm. In Pat’s son Wes, Ken’s son Adam and Les’s Grandson Matt, all working in different capacities and learning the business, waiting in the wings to continue on this long standing Amherstburg Staple, previously operating as Kennedy Chev Olds
