Humberview

Our story begins when family patriarch Stewart Esplen became a GM dealer back in 1962, but his Etobicoke-based company really took off in the early '70s after purchasing Humberview Chevrolet at 3200 Bloor St. W. which would not only become his company's flagship, but was also where he first entered the auto industry as a salesman in 1954.

The Humberview location quickly became one of Canada's most successful GM dealerships, winning General Motors' most prestigious award, the Triple Crown, 22 times over the past 28 years.

Stewart Esplen expanded Humberview's operations, now including:

Humberview Truck

Applewood Chevrolet Cadillac

Cooksville Hyundai

Cooksville Dodge

Jim Peplinski's Leasemaster (JPL)

Avenue Nissan

Foster Pontiac Buick

Popham Pontiac Buick

Old Mill Pontiac Buick Cadillac

Campbell's Auto Shoppe

and eventually handed off the day-to-day work to his sons John and Scott and son-in-law Jim Peplinski, the ex-NHL player who spearheads their nationwide Jim Peplinski's Leasemaster operation.

"As a second generation member of this business, I duplicated the model that my father Stewart started," says John Esplen. "We're about repeat business. Others say it and we do it, when you look at the negative history of the auto industry, it was all too often they sell you a car and you never hear from them again. But we want to maintain the relationship with the owner throughout the life of the vehicle."

Part of the reason customers keep coming back is Humberview's ever-increasing diversity. By not being tied to a specific brand, they can fill almost any requirement, domestic or import, car or truck, buy or lease. Customers will be even better served as the company continues to increase its variety with new dealerships opening in Barrie, Mississauga and Toronto.

At every expansion, Humberview sets its roots in the local community, hoping to become more than just another business by contributing to the neighborhood. Newcomer Avenue Nissan has become involved in charitable sidewalk sales and working with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, while Humberview recently raised $60,000 for the United Way with employees organizing bake sales and even climbing the CN Tower. They've also made many a child's year with their "Good Sports Initiative" which sponsors local hockey, baseball and t-ball teams.

John Esplen attributes the majority of Humberview's momentum to his dedicated and well-trained staff, some of whom have been with the company for up to 30 years.

"Our goal is constantly seeking the best people in the marketplace to serve and run our business and the customer ultimately benefits from that," Esplen says, noting one full-time employee is tasked solely with scouting for new team members.

"There's a car dealership on every corner. The products, the building, the services, we all kind of supply the same things. What really makes the difference is the people. We have a higher quality of people that can deliver at a level in excess of what our competition does."