In the auto industry, the highest honor isn’t a corporate title—it’s becoming a dealer principal. For Bobby Crabtree, it’s a role steeped in legacy. It’s more than being born into the business. “A '64 Imperial,” he laughs as he recalls the car he was actually born in. His grandfather was a Dodge dealer in the 1930s, and his father expanded the family’s dealership empire through the 20th century.
Bobby started young, cleaning cars in the late ’70s, then joined Toyota to understand the manufacturer’s side. “You learn how important the distribution process is,” he says. “You see how the manufacturer thinks, and it makes you a better dealer.” After returning home, he started from the bottom again—selling cars at Colonial Toyota.
By the ’90s, he was running multiple stores, but personal losses and family complexities led him to refocus on Colonial Toyota. He rebuilt it into one of the Northeast’s top dealerships. His secret? “Everybody is hired from within, promoted from within,” he explains. “You don't have outside cultures managing your people. That's when you start failing.”
- Automobiles Magazine, July 2025 Edition
Strategic Growth
In 2022, Bobby acquired County Line Nissan and turned it into the #1 store in its region within four months. He tripled sales at a Watertown Toyota store and carefully expanded into a historic Lexus and Chevrolet facility in New Haven. “It’s a 65,000-square-foot building on 17 acres. That’s something I always wanted.”
He kept existing staff and integrated his culture gradually. “You don’t walk in and fire everyone,” he says. “You give people a chance. Most can adjust. And some become stars.”
Today, Crabtree Motor Group includes five dealerships—all within the same market area to share resources and culture.
Family at the Core
Bobby’s family is deeply involved. Daughter Sarah leads marketing and customer relations. His daughter Morgan’s husband Jack runs used car operations—“That’s why it takes someone sharp and experienced to run it – and Jack’s definitely that guy.” Another daughter Emily works in finance, Maggie studies nursing, and twins Michael and Katie are student-athletes. Carolyn, Bobby’s wife of 35 years, more than a housewife, supports interior design and charity work. “My greatest accomplishments are my children,” Bobby says. “Running a dealership and raising a family aren’t that different – you’ve got to stay involved, and you’ve got to mean what you say.”
Culture and Leadership Runs Deep
Many employees have been with the company for decades. Bobby scales by promoting from within and mentoring new hires. “It reinforces growth from within and loyalty,” he says. “I don’t fire people easily or quickly,” he adds. “Talent is defined by god given ability combined with the right attitude.”
Daily management meetings and hands-on leadership keep operations tight. “The number one killer of morale is drama,” Bobby says. “So we cut it out. We hold people accountable. But we also listen.”
More than a Business
To Bobby, dealerships are about community and relationships. “You keep that in mind, you’ll run a better business,” he says. And the Crabtree name? It’s more than a brand – it’s a legacy. “We’re not just number one in sales. We’re number one in retention. And that’s because our people don’t want to leave. That’s how you know you’re doing it right.”
"I have an open-door policy, and sincerely welcome you to our family."
– Robert E. Crabtree Jr.
Interested in reading the full Automobiles of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut July 2025 Edition? Follow the link below.
