Honda dealership spruces up, expands

The Honda Store is adding to its showroom.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
BOARDMAN -- A construction project that will upgrade and expand The Honda Store should be complete in about two months.
The brick exterior has been torn off the front of the former appliance store building so a 2,500-square-foot addition can be added.
When done, the front of the building will feature Honda's blue and gray colors and large windows.
A wavy, blue canopy will streak across the front of the building to a circular entryway.
Nick Siciliano, dealership general manager, said the addition will provide space for five cars in the showroom, instead of three. The addition brings the total space to 20,500 square feet.
Besides the addition, the front part of the dealership was gutted to allow for remodeling. The work will provide for improved sales offices and customer waiting room. A play room for children also will be added.
The project began April 1.
Once complete, crews will move to the service area, where a new service counter will be installed.
Siciliano said the interior of the building will improve customer convenience, while the new look to the exterior should help attract more customers.
He declined to say how much the project will cost.
Until the work is done, the sales staff is working from a trailer behind the dealership. Siciliano said the situation is far from ideal but the staff and customers are making the best of it.
Sales
He said dealership officials aren't worried about making the investment during a recession because sales have been good. He said he was pleased with sales of 65 new and used vehicles last month.
For the first five months of this year, the dealership sold 245 vehicles, compared with 274 during the same five months last year, according to a report by the Automobile Dealers of Eastern Ohio.
Last year, it sold 623 new cars, compared with 539 new cars in 2000. Overall, it sold 842 new and used vehicles last year, compared with 773 in 2000.
The dealership is owned by Donnell Auto Group, which also owns Donnell Ford in Boardman and Columbiana Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac.
Despite the connection to Donnell Ford, located among other car dealers on Market Street, Siciliano said no consideration was given to moving The Honda Store.
He said its location on Boardman-Canfield Road is good because it has large traffic counts but is located at a traffic light, which provides easy access. Being away from the other dealerships also makes The Honda Store stick out, he said.
Donnell Auto Group bought the dealership in 1990 from Marve Minneman. Donnell kept the dealership at that location for a few years, moved it to Market Street for a few years and then returned to Boardman-Canfield Road in 1997.
shilling@vindy.com