The company will begin to solve that problem on Aug. 4 as it breaks ground on a $3 million expansion project. The expansion will increase the size of the dealership from 10,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet.
The project is limited to the Honda and Toyota franchises and not the company's General Motors franchise.
The new building will house both the Honda and Toyota dealerships, which will be the first of its kind in the country, according to Glockner.
“This will make it more cost-effective for us,” he said. “We won't need two separate buildings.”
The first part of the project will be the building of a new service center behind the current building.
Once that is complete, the Toyota showroom will temporarily handle both dealerships until a new showroom is built. Both showrooms will be in the new building.
The revamped dealership should open sometime in the spring. Business will continue as normal while construction proceeds.
The new building will feature a drive-thru service area in between the Honda and Toyota dealerships.
“We have five service bays now,” Glockner said. “But we will increase it to 12. So that will give us more service capacity for our customers.”
It will also have play areas for children and a wireless Internet cafe for adults.
“Honda and Toyota are telling us exactly how to do this,” Glockner said.
Honda and Toyota will hire a project manager who will then bid construction jobs to local workers, he said.
Glockner said the company will add about 15 new jobs because of the expansion.
In a related issue, the Glockner GM Superstore will host a cruise-in on Friday from 6-10 p.m. to benefit the Glockner Christmas Kids charity fund.
Portsmouth native and National Hot Rod Association Hall of Famer Gordon Collett is scheduled to attend.
JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
Post a Comment
