Jessie Armstead is a former linebacker in the NFL who played 11 seasons with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins between 1993 and 2003.
In 2008, Armstead was hired by the Giants as a consultant. His responsibilities include special projects, defensive assignments, player development and free agent recruiting.
Armstead also is a businessman and owner of the Hamilton Honda car dealership.
Jessie Armstead
New York Giants
Following two seasons with rival Washington, Armstead returned in June 2007 to the team that drafted him in 1993 to retire. He had 100-plus tackles in five straight seasons with the Giants.
Text: Brett LoGiurato, SI.com
Photo: Al Tielemans/SI
Sports Illustrated
Mike Saporito and 5-time NFL pro-bowler Jessie Armstead receive YMCA’s prestigious 2010 Community Enrichment Award for their extraordinary support of the YMCA’s mission to to help children, families and individuals reach their full potential . Pictured left to right: Mike Saporito, Hamilton Honda; Jessie Armstead, Hamilton Honda; James J. Fell, YMCA CEO.
David and Maria Schultz, founders of Ryans Quest, gather with Jessie Armstead (owner of Hamilton Honda and 5 time pro-bowl linebacker) and his NFL friends were giving autographs autographs, taking pictures and playing golf with supporters. Jessie Armstead and Mike Saporito invited several friends who are former and current NFL players including NY Giants; Antonio Pierce, Rodney Hampton, Jonathan Goff, Chase Blackburn, Bryan Kehl and Philadelphia Eagle, Jeremiah Trotter. Read more »
Saturday, March 20, 2010
By The Trentonian
HAMILTON — Giants legend Jessie Armstead, co-owner of Hamilton Honda, is sponsoring this year’s Ryan’s Quest Charitable Golf Outing and Auction on April 29 at Mercer Oaks Golf Course. In addition to Armstead, several other former and current professional athletes and dignitaries — including Hamilton Mayor John F. Bencivengo — are expected to participate both on the links and during the auction/dinner for photos and autographs.
It’s New to Us
by Jean Stratton
September 16, 2009
Automotive Excellence: “I look forward to being able to say that every customer in New Jersey and nearby Pennsylvania is driving a Hamilton Honda! All we ask is the opportunity to earn your business. Let us show you what we can do for you.” MIke Saporito, managing partner of the new Hamilton Honda center, is very enthusiastic about his brand new dealership.
Former Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead, now co-owner of Hamilton Honda, addresses the media at the dealership's grand opening.
Hamilton Honda facility
A few years ago, Jessie Armstead would drive friends and family members down to Hamilton — a few miles east of Trenton — to a huge grass lot on Route 130. “People thought I was losing my mind when I would bring them out here and say, ‘This is where my dealership’s going,’” the former Giants linebacker said. “A year went by and Michael Strahan said, ‘Don’t tell us no more. We don’t believe a dealership is ever going to come.’ But there’s one here today.”
Armstead told that story last night while standing in the middle of Hamilton Honda’s showroom floor. A couple of feet away, brand-new cars took up part of the huge room. The rest was crowded with friends, current Giants players and coaches and associates of his business partner, Michael Saporito — all of whom attended last night’s VIP grand opening to wish Armstead and Saporito good luck. About 20 current Giants, including Brandon Jacobs, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and Barry Cofield, were in attendance.
Hamilton Mayor John F. Bencivengo greets former New York Giant and Hamilton Honda owner Jessie Armstead at the new auto dealer’s grand opening, June 9, 2009. (Photo by Norine Longo.)
HamiltonSpace.com
By Community News Staff
Former New York Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead has lived a football lover’s dream, playing in five Pro Bowls during a decade-long career. But he came to Hamilton to pursue a combination of his other passions — business and cars.
The connection between the new Hamilton Honda dealership on Route 130 and football is evident in glass display cases in the waiting room, housing autographed Giants jerseys and helmets and photographs of triumphant moments on the field. Many of the shots are of the Giants playing the Philadelphia Eagles, in a nod to the fan base in this area, where residents support teams to both the north and south.
Michael Saporito, originally from Long Island, is Armstead’s business partner in the venture, which he said they have been planning for years. They found there was a need for a Honda dealership in the Hamilton area, which has a population of more than 90,000, but no other Honda dealer in the immediate area.
“It chose us,” he said of the location.
Both he and Armstead plan to relocate to the Hamilton area, he added.
Honda dealerships are also located to the south in Burlington, to the east in Freehold and just north in Princeton, but none of those locations are necessarily convenient to Hamilton residents, he said.
“They welcomed me with open arms here,” Armstead said of the Hamilton area. “It wasn’t so much because of the athlete part of it but because I took out the time and got involved with the community. I got to know the people in the town. And a lot of times, dealers don’t take the time to meet with people.”
Originally from Texas, he has played for the Giants and also the Washington Redskins in the NFL. He played college football at the University of Miami in Florida.
But now Armstead has made Hamilton his community and even sits on the board of directors of the Hamilton Area YMCA.
“It gave me an opportunity to work with kids and help the kids out,” he said. “This is my community also. I want to be well involved in the YMCA and different programs and different organizations here.”
At 65,000 square feet, on 11.5 acres, the Hamilton dealership is the largest in the Northeast, Saporito said. It will have up to 1,000 new vehicles on the lot, and 165 cars were sold and delivered in the first several weeks after its “soft” opening in May.
General Sales Manager Michael Fanning said the sleek facility is “the future,” with an emphasis on cleanliness, efficiency and technology.
The grand opening, complete with appearances from current and former NFL players, was held June 9.
“Jessie is somebody I look up to,” Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs said. “He’s older and been in the game a long time, and he knew where he wanted to take his business. He’s made some great decisions so far.”
Township Director of Economic Development and Technology Michael Angarone said the facility has brought 60 new jobs to the area so far and fits into the township’s plan for the Route 130 corridor.
“The dealership will be a catalyst for other things that are happening,” he said.
The $24-million dealership is between the Hamilton Marketplace shopping center and the new Shoppes at Hamilton, all on the northbound side of Route 130 near Klockner Road.
The location will offer vehicle service seven days a week and has 37 service bays in a spacious interior.
A café will serve breakfast and lunch for customers waiting to have their cars serviced, and the site also boosts a small, quiet area with Internet access and a space for children to play.
Saporito said Armstead will be “very involved” at the site with day-to-day business.
“Honda’s got a really great product, and everybody loves Honda products,” Armstead said. “The thing about it is customer service, working hard, working hours. I don’t shy away from hard work. I want it to be known in the community and all around here. We’re going to do everything to help the community out and get involved in it and make this Honda store No. 1 in the nation.”
Saporito acknowledged that opening a car dealership during a recession that has hit the automotive industry particularly hard may seem like a risk, but expressed confidence in the venture.
“I think if everybody gives us the opportunity to earn their business they’ll get blown away,” he said.
“If you work hard, no matter how hard it is, the strong will survive,” Armstead said. “I started at the bottom. You can’t help but keep on working hard and come up.”
Assistant editor Rob Anthes contributed to the reporting of this story.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for Hamilton Honda with Hamilton Mayor, John Bencivengo, owners Jessie Armstead and Michael Saporito and families.
The two owners of Hamilton Honda, Jessie Armstead and Michael Saporito pictured with several athletes in attendance.
Hamilton Honda celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The dealership is located at 655 Route 130 in Hamilton, just past the Hamilton Marketplace.
Former New York Giants linebacker, Jessie Armstead and his partner, Michael Saporito of All Star Motors are the owners of the new Honda dealership.
Together, they welcomed friends, family, teammates, coworkers, and several guests to share in the moment of their opening.
In attendance were former and current NFL football players, mostly Giants, including Sinorice Moss, Domenik Hixon, Kevin Dockery, Michael Matthews, Osi Umenyiora, Antonio Pierce, and Brandon Jacobs. Even Drew Rosenhaus, an NFL sports agent, representing players like Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco (Johnson), and Plaxico Burress, was among the guests at the celebration.
The mayor of Hamilton, John F. Bencivengo, welcomed both Armstead and Saporito to Hamilton, which will now not only be the location of their business, but also the town they and their families will call home. The evening continued with speeches given by representatives from American Honda Finance, the mayor, and both owners of Hamilton Honda.
The night completed with a ribbon cutting ceremony in which Mayor Bencivengo used a large pair of scissors to cut through a red ribbon with both owners and their families close by. The night came to a close as the Mayor shook hands and congratulated both owners on their opening.
Visit Hamilton Honda online at http://www.hamiltonhonda.net.
Hamilton Honda Showroom
Hamilton Honda Showroom
Former NY Giants Linebacker and Co-owner of Hamilton Honda Jessie Armstead
Jessie Armstead, Owner Mike Saporito, Owner Sam Dolente, Zone Manager AHM
Preparing to cut the ribbon Mike Saporito, Mayor Bencivengo, Jessie Armstead
Mayor John F. Bencivengo welcomes Hamilton Honda
Preparing to cut the ribbon- Mike Saporito, Mayor Bencivengo, Jessie Armstead
Hamilton Township Councilman, Dennis Pone and Director of Economic Development, Mike Angarone
Congratulations Hamilton Honda!
Wanda Korolenko, NY Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs, and Councilman Dennis Pone
By John K. Rafferty, Executive Director
Hamilton Township, NJ
Economic Development Corporation
All Star Honda is the largest Honda operation in the North Eastern USA! The entire layout is a vision of the most sophisticated of its kind in the country. All Star Honda’s partners, Michael Saporito and Jessie Armstead were looking for a place in New Jersey to locate a dream that both men shared for years. They conducted a thorough search from their New York base and found Hamilton! Mike stated, “I couldn’t believe there was such a place so suited for what we had in mind. I fell in love with Hamilton.” Jessie Armstead, a nine year veteran with the NFL New York Giants and fi ve time All- Pro selection was equally impressed. Jessie and Mike selected this spot; the place where dreams come true. Jessie and Mike are relocating their families to Hamilton. Armstead stated, “As future Hamiltonians, the Armstead family, is looking forward to becoming part of the Hamilton community.” Jessie is a recent appointee to the Hamilton Area YMCA Board of Directors. America’s only promise to all is “the opportunity” to achieve our dreams. We all have dreams and it’s so gratifying to witness dreams come true for those who take advantage of that opportunity.
