Belle Mead Garage - Serving Somerset County, New Jersey, and Beyond for over 100 Years
Belle Mead Garage has been a critical supplier to the agricultural community for over 100 years. In 1927 Leroy Higgins bought the business from the Cruser Brothers. The building, constructed in 1919, was part of Belle Mead Station Square and sold gas & serviced autos. By 1935, the facility was converted to a Chrysler dealership managed by Leroy Higgins and turned over onto his son, Murf, in 1959 who managed the dealership until 1990.
Belle Mead Garage has been a critical supplier to the agricultural community for over 100 years. In 1927 Leroy Higgins bought the business from the Cruser Brothers. The building, constructed in 1919, was part of Belle Mead Station Square and sold gas & serviced autos. By 1935, the facility was converted to a Chrysler dealership managed by Leroy Higgins and turned over onto his son, Murf, in 1959 who managed the dealership until 1990.
Thereafter, Leroy’s grandson, Kip took over the responsibility of running the business and employed Chris Carnevale to work in various roles between 1990 & 1995. Chris left to pursue other opportunities including a position in Wisconsin leading a Massey Fergusen dealership.
In 2009, Belle Mead Garage transformed from a Chrysler dealership to a used car and repair shop serving the Somerset County and surrounding areas at a time when Chrysler Corporation eliminated 800 dealerships including Belle Mead. With Kip’s entrepreneurial spirit, Belle Mead Garage weathered the loss of Chrysler and still provided good service and cars for the community.
In 2016, Chris Carnevale came back to NJ just when the last existing NJ Massey Ferguson dealership closed down. Timing was perfect for Chris to take his experience running Massey Ferguson dealership in Wisconsin and reintroduced Massey to New Jersey. Rather than starting from scratch, he partnered with his former employer and good friend Kip Higgins and launched the Massey Ferguson dealership as part of Belle Mead Garage.
In 2009, Belle Mead Garage transformed from a Chrysler dealership to a used car and repair shop serving the Somerset County and surrounding areas at a time when Chrysler Corporation eliminated 800 dealerships including Belle Mead. With Kip’s entrepreneurial spirit, Belle Mead Garage weathered the loss of Chrysler and still provided good service and cars for the community.
In 2016, Chris Carnevale came back to NJ just when the last existing NJ Massey Ferguson dealership closed down. Timing was perfect for Chris to take his experience running Massey Ferguson dealership in Wisconsin and reintroduced Massey to New Jersey. Rather than starting from scratch, he partnered with his former employer and good friend Kip Higgins and launched the Massey Ferguson dealership as part of Belle Mead Garage.
While many people thought they wouldn't succeed, Belle Mead Garage’s Massey Ferguson tractor business launched and far exceeded expectations in the first year and now sells hundreds of tractors each year. It turns out the appetite for farm tractors goes well beyond the large agriculture farms and Belle Mead Garage is selling to smaller hobby farms, construction companies, & landscapers - adapting and adjusting to meet the changing market And, the cross-pollination of car customers and tractor customers has been value-additive for both sides of the business. This transformation is truly a remarkable success story.
With the quality of Massey’s products, excellent customer service, and a 100 year legacy of continuous business, Belle Mead Garage continues to thrive. And, with a new tractor line of orchard vineyard tractors, Massey will provide a growing NJ Ag community of grape, peach, and apple farmers with high quality tractors built to work in the fields and underneath high hoop houses.
With the quality of Massey’s products, excellent customer service, and a 100 year legacy of continuous business, Belle Mead Garage continues to thrive. And, with a new tractor line of orchard vineyard tractors, Massey will provide a growing NJ Ag community of grape, peach, and apple farmers with high quality tractors built to work in the fields and underneath high hoop houses.
And Belle Mead Garage doesn’t stop in New Jersey! Kip and Chris serve Tobacco farmers in Western Massachusetts, farmers in Bucks County, PA, & Orange County, NY providing service within a 150 mile radius from their location in Somerset County.
For more information about Belle Mead Garage and Massey Ferguson, check out their website HERE or send them an email at [email protected]
For more information about Belle Mead Garage and Massey Ferguson, check out their website HERE or send them an email at [email protected]
