Fifty years ago, the late Bob Cochran opened a small dealership called Cochran Pontiac in North Braddock on what is now the site of Braddock’s Battlefield History Center.
In honor of the anniversary, his son, Rob Cochran, the president and CEO of what is now called #1 Cochran, wanted to recognize the roots of the company, which now operates 23 new-vehicle franchises representing 16 domestic and imported brands, making it the largest auto retailer in the region.
The result is a $50,000 donation toward the revitalization of the Braddock area to be split between Braddock and North Braddock.
“North Braddock gave us our start,’’ Mr. Cochran said. ”It has since become the latest example of a neighborhood that is going through challenging times. We saw many Pittsburgh neighborhoods come back and would like to be part of North Braddock and Braddock coming back,” Mr. Cochran said.
This week he presented the donation to the mayors of the two boroughs at an anniversary celebration at Braddock’s Battlefield History Center.
With its $25,000 donation, Braddock will purchase a new police car from #1 Cochran.
“To celebrate their Braddock roots is just awesome. We need a new police car, so the timing is great,” Mayor John Fetterman said.
Of the North Braddock donation, $15,000 will go toward the preservation of the history center, at 609 Sixth St., North Braddock, while $10,000 will go to Mayor Thomas Whyel to use for the borough as needed.
“It might go toward new police vests,” the mayor said.
“It’s a wonderful donation. Any donation is always appreciated,” he said.
Bob Cochran began his automotive career as a salesman at C.A. Clark Pontiac. When Mr. Clark died in 1965, he bought the dealership and named it Cochran Pontiac.
In 1968, the original dealership outgrew its North Braddock location and relocated to Monroeville.
An early memory for Mr. Cochran, 49, was of exploring the site on a Sunday when it was closed and his father was working.
“It seemed really, really expansive,” he said, noting it was small compared to today’s dealerships.
In 1987, Cochran Pontiac changed its name to #1 Cochran.
Company highlights since then include: becoming the exclusive Infiniti retailer in Western Pennsylvania in 1990; opening a 26-acre multi-brand MegaCenter in Monroeville in 2003, and an Allegheny Valley MegaCenter in 2012; and simultaneously opening Infiniti galleries in North and South Hills in 2014.
Earlier this year, #1 Cochran Subaru of Butler County held its grand opening.
Mr. Cochran said the biggest difference in the industry between today and a half-century ago is the ease, transparency and clarity of information, such as being able to readily check the value of a trade-in on the Internet.
“The industry is simpler and cleaner and more customer-focused, and we worked hard to be a leader,” he said.
Margaret Smykla, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First Published: August 21, 2015, 4:00 a.m.