If you’ve driven down Pearl Road in Medina recently, you might have noticed something different. Or maybe you haven’t. The giant bowties are still there, the rows of Silverados still gleam under the Ohio sun, but the name on the sign isn't what it used to be. For years, Pat O'Brien Chevy Medina was the go-to spot for anyone in Northeast Ohio looking for a "fair deal" and that famous "UpFront Pricing."
But things changed. Fast.
Honestly, the car business in Northeast Ohio is a bit of a small world. In early 2020, just before the world turned upside down, a massive deal went down that fundamentally shifted the landscape of local car buying. Bob Serpentini and Ken Ganley—two of the biggest names in the game—teamed up to buy three of Pat O’Brien’s locations. Medina was one of them.
The End of an Era for Pat O'Brien Chevy Medina
It wasn't just a quiet hand-off. This was a blockbuster acquisition. The deal included the Medina, Westlake, and Willoughby locations. Suddenly, the largest Chevrolet dealership group in Ohio got even bigger.
Basically, the transition happened overnight. One day you were taking your Equinox to Pat O'Brien for an oil change, and the next, you were pulling into Serpentini Chevrolet of Medina.
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Why does this matter now, in 2026? Because people still search for the O'Brien name. They remember the culture. Pat O'Brien built his reputation on the "UpFront Pricing" model, which was kind of a big deal back when every car purchase felt like a wrestling match with a guy in a cheap suit. He wanted to take the "negotiation" out of the equation.
Where did the Pat O'Brien name go?
It didn't totally vanish, but it moved. While the Medina location was rebranded to Serpentini, the O'Brien family didn't leave the car business entirely. They kept their Vermilion dealership for a while, though even that eventually transitioned under the Firelands Auto Group umbrella around 2022.
If you go to 3880 Pearl Rd today, you’re looking at Serpentini. They’ve kept the 52,000-square-foot facility—which, fun fact, was built with specialized concrete tilt-up wall panels to keep the service bays fire-resistant and clean—but the vibe has shifted toward the Serpentini way of doing things.
What changed (and what stayed the same)
If you’re a former Pat O'Brien Chevy Medina regular, you're probably wondering if the service is different. Most of the time, when a big group buys a family-owned store, there’s a fear that the "personal touch" disappears.
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Serpentini brought in their own "secret sauce," as Bob Serpentini calls it. This included:
- The 20-Year/200,000-Mile Warranty: This is their big selling point now. They offer a massive powertrain warranty on new vehicles that O'Brien didn't have.
- Aggressive Inventory: By being part of a larger group (linked with Strongsville and Tallmadge), the Medina lot usually has a deeper pool of used inventory than a single-point store would.
- Community Focus: You’ve probably seen the Serpentini name on local stadium scoreboards or at school events. They leaned hard into the "local corporate citizen" role that Pat O'Brien originally established.
However, some of the old staff stayed. You can still find mechanics in that service department who have been working in those same bays since the building was first constructed in 2012.
The "UpFront Pricing" legacy
Let’s talk about the pricing. Pat O'Brien’s whole thing was: "The price on the glass is the price you pay."
In 2026, the market is a different beast. With inventory levels finally stabilizing after years of post-pandemic chaos, the "no-haggle" dream is harder to find. Serpentini follows a more traditional volume-dealer model. They want to move units. They’ll work with you on a trade-in, and they’ll definitely talk numbers, but the rigid "UpFront" sticker isn't the law of the land like it used to be.
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Is it better? It depends on who you ask.
Some people miss the simplicity of the O'Brien days. Others love the massive warranty and the fact that Serpentini can pull a specific Bolt or Silverado from another one of their six lots if they don't have it in Medina.
Navigating the Medina car market today
If you are looking for Pat O'Brien Chevy Medina because you had a great experience there a decade ago, you need to adjust your GPS. You are heading to Serpentini now.
Here is the reality of buying at the 3880 Pearl Rd location today:
- Check the Group Inventory: Don't just look at what's on the lot in Medina. Ask the sales team what’s available in Strongsville or Orrville. They can usually swap cars within 24 hours.
- Review the Warranty Fine Print: That 200,000-mile warranty is great, but it usually requires you to follow a strict maintenance schedule. If you’re a "DIY oil change" kind of person, make sure you know how that affects your coverage.
- The Service Department is Still a Powerhouse: The facility was built for high volume. Even though the name changed, the infrastructure—the lube bays, the heavy-duty lifts—is still top-tier for the region.
People in Medina are loyal. We remember the names on the buildings. While the O'Brien era has technically ended in Medina, the dealership remains a cornerstone of the local economy. It’s just wearing a different jersey now.
Actionable Insight: If you’re heading to the old Pat O'Brien site for service, check for Serpentini-specific coupons online first. They often run service specials that are different from the old O'Brien flyers. Also, if you’re looking for a used car, ask if the vehicle is "Serpentini Certified," as that carries different protections than a standard "as-is" used buy.