In 1917, Edward Eugene Hollingsworth moved to Savannah from Rex, GA and opened Hollingsworth Auto Service on Liberty and Price St. The business ownership then transferred to Mr. Hollingsworth's son-in-law, Howard Bailey Viar, Sr., a WWII veteran and Chief Engineer for the Merchant Marines, who met Sybil Louis Hollingsworth right off the Liberty ship at the old Desoto Hilton. In 1966, Howard Sr. took over the family business and incorporated it as they moved to the 319 Jefferson Street location. When all of the car dealerships relocated to the Southside, Hollingsworth remained downtown in order to better serve Savannah's business community.
After having worked as Vice President since 1970, Howard Viar, Jr. took over upon his father's retirement in 1986 and ran the business until his untimely death in 2001. In June of 1973, Hollingsworth moved around the corner to its present location at 500 Montgomery Street, and during that time, Howard Jr. helped to modernize the business with his finance education from the University of Georgia. When his younger sister, Linda, took over as Vice President and C.O.O. in February 2001, Howard Jr. had left behind a thriving family business, known by Savannahians as the best automotive body repair shop to entrust their cars.
At age 19, Linda Viar married John Ivanowski and began keeping the books for Hollingsworth Auto Service, Inc., taking a five-year leave in 1979 to mother two sons, Joseph and James Ivanowski. In her stepdaughter's absence, Ida Maude Viar took over the responsibilities as the office bookkeeper until her retirement in 2002. Linda returned to work in 1983 as the head of the new parts department, which was unusual for an independent body shop to have on the premises at that time. After her first husband's death in 1994, Linda took charge as the office manager, running all internal affairs until taking over the entire business in 2001. Hollingsworth is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. James Ivanowski, a Georgia State University business grad and Linda's son, grew up in the business. James has continued to improve the image of Hollingsworth Auto Service, their commitment to customer service and to do the best repairs possible. "At Hollingsworth, the customer always has and always will come first," assures Linda Ivanowski.