About
The term "Family Business" is practically defined by Barnhart's Honda Suzuki in Ruff Creek, PA. It's been that way since Greg & Vicky Barnhart purchased Midtown Honda of Waynesburg in 1977. Vicky laughs when she tells the story, "Greg was the mechanic at Midtown when owner Warren Widdup offered to sell it to him. He kept asking me, 'should I buy it? should I buy it?' I said if we can afford it and you want it - buy it. So he did. He never told me I had to work there," she chuckles. And go to work she did, even though daughter Yvonne was just two years old.
With just the two of them (and Vicky's 14 year old brother Keith working part time) Greg & Vicky began to grow their business into a successful dealership now employing 14 people and offering the full line of Honda and Suzuki motorcycles, ATVs and utility vehicles as well as an impressive parts and service department for all makes. A major boost came when they purchased a building in 1984 and moved the dealership to its current location on Rt. 19 off Ruff Creek Exit of I-79. Misfortune hit, though, in July 1997 when Greg, who also partnered with his parents Paul & Jean Barnhart in a beef farming operation, tragically lost his life in a tractor accident.
That's when Yvonne Barnhart, graduated from Duquesne University in May of the same year, made the decision to join with her mom and continue building the family business. After obtaining her MBA from WVU, Yvonne returned full-time to the motorcycle dealership which had been like "home" most of her life. As a matter-of-fact, she's carrying on the family tradition in more ways than one. Yvonne also happens to be married to a motorcycle mechanic - Craig Greenwood, Service Manager for Barnhart's Honda Suzuki and they are the proud parents of the newest additions to the family, Vivian and Lillian.
Vicky's brothers Kevin and Tim Kirby, both with extensive backgrounds in motorcycle and ATV service and sport, are also key members of the staff. Kevin manages the parts department and Tim is sales manager. Together with a team of experienced employees, this family business has earned a reputation in the industry and market for excellence in service. With their absolute commitment to the lowest "out-the-door" pricing on any new Honda or Suzuki, sales continue to grow as well. Tim Kirby likes to sum it up this way, "Come on out to Barnhart's - we'll treat you so good you'll think you're a member of the family, too."
This year, there's an additional air of excitement among the staff and customers at Barnhart's. Construction is underway on an all new - very exciting - building to house Barnhart's new showroom, shop and service center. "The exterior of the building will actually have a rustic, natural look to it," says Yvonne Barnhart, "and on the inside, it's definitely high performance everywhere." Plans for the facility include an expansion of nearly four times the showroom display space Barnhart's currently has, in addition to a customer oriented parts and accessories department and state-of-the-art service bays in the shop. Watch the progress on this next chapter in the Barnhart's Honda Suzuki Story...the new structure is easily visible from I-79, as it is located just north of the existing shop, right on Rt. 19 in Ruff creek.
