Jim Burke Automotive Group

Postcard for Jim Burke Nash

The Jim Burke Automotive Group was founded by Jim Burke in 1945 as a Nash dealership located at 300 22nd Street South. He had previously owned a Ford dealership in Rochester, New York.

Burke sold his 25,000-square foot Nash showroom to William Bailey when he landed a Buick franchise in 1952. He built a new showroom north of downtown, beginning a series of expansions that was continued by his son, Jim Burke Jr, who took over the company in 1976.

Currently the group is comprised of 13 dealerships in 5 locations and employs over 385 people. The group's headquarters are at 1301 5th Avenue North.

In 2020 a group of current and former employees filed a racial discrimination complaint against the dealership with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Locations

• Jim Burke Jaguar/Subaru/Isuzu/Saab, 2415 7th Avenue South, Birmingham
• Jim Burke Hyundai, 2505 Ensley Avenue, Ensley
• Jim Burke Pontiac/Buick/GMC, 1301 5th Avenue North, Birmingham
• Jim Burke Nissan, 1300 3rd Avenue North, Birmingham
• Jim Burke Chevrolet/Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, 1409 5th Avenue North, Birmingham

Former locations

• Jim Burke Jaguar/Saab, 2415 7th Avenue South, Birmingham
• Jim Burke Nash, 300 22nd Street South, Birmingham (1945-1952)

References

• "Jim Burke sells Nash dealership, to open agency on Northside" (September 1952) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
• "Jim Burke Automotive Group." (January 2007) Birmingham Then & Now Special Promotion. Birmingham magazine. Vol. 47, No. 1, p. 141
• Thornton, William (October 20, 2020) "Jim Burke Automotive Group employees say executive discriminated, used racial slurs." The Birmingham News

External links

• Jim Burke Automotive Group website