---

Hometown Auto Retailers Announces Annual Meeting Date

23 August 2000

Hometown Auto Retailers Announces Annual Meeting Date

    WATERTOWN, Conn.--Aug. 23, 2000--Hometown Auto Retailers Inc. Wednesday announced it will host its annual meeting of shareholders on Aug. 29, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) at the Sheraton Waterbury located at 3580 East Main Street in Waterbury, Conn.
    At the meeting, Hometown's shareholders will be asked to elect nine directors for one year terms, ratify the appointment of independent auditors for 2000, and to vote to amend the certificate of incorporation to reduce the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock, par value $.001 per share, from 24 million to 12 million.
    Other business will also be transacted as properly brought before the meeting.

    About Hometown Auto Retailers

    Hometown Auto Retailers sells new and used cars and light trucks, provides maintenance and repair services, sells replacement parts and provides related financing, insurance and service contracts through 11 franchised dealerships located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.
    The company's dealerships offer 13 American and Asian automotive brands, including Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daewoo, Dodge, Ford, Isuzu, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Plymouth and Toyota.
    The company is active in two "niche" segments of the automotive market: the sale of Lincoln Town Cars and limousines to livery car and livery fleet operators and the maintenance and repair of cars and trucks at a Ford and Lincoln Mercury factory authorized free-standing service center.

    This release contains "forward-looking statements" based on current expectations but involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or achievements may be materially different from those expressed or implied.
    The company's plans and objectives are based on assumptions involving judgments with respect to future economic, competitive and market conditions, its ability to consummate, and the timing of, acquisitions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of the company.
    Therefore, there can be no assurance than any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate.