Despite recession, Berlin City plans expansion
While car dealerships are taking a hit nationally, Berlin City Toyota and Lexus is increasing the size of its Portland dealership, acquiring property to expand its service center and increasing its inventory display space by about 20%.
Rod Buscher, CEO and president of Berlin City Auto Group and its parent company, Summit Automotive, told Mainebiz if all goes as planned, the upgrade will be finished within a year.
"Portland is a very good market for us," says Buscher from his headquarters in Denver. "The last three weekends have been the best three weekends since September in terms of sales."
The Toyota and Lexus dealership on Riverside Street offers new and used cars, generating more than $100 million in sales last year. The expansion includes purchasing about two acres of adjacent land and adding more service bays to the existing service center, as well as creating about 275 spaces for additional vehicles. Buscher says the purchase is expected to close within a month and then construction can begin, assuming all the city permits have been obtained.
"The paving and lights should be finished this summer," says Buscher.
Although car sales have been down around the country since the recession tightened its grip this fall, Buscher says Maine continues to perform well, a tribute to its relatively stable economy and Yankee frugality. He said his Maine customers have much stronger credit scores than customers from other states.
"They seem to be good solid people who pay their bills and work hard," he says. "Maine is a great place for us to do business."
So much so that plans for a new dealership for Berlin City Honda are under way across from the Maine Mall. Buscher said that project is in the design phase now and should be completed within two years.
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