APOSTOLAKIS HONDA Dealership opens larger showroom

The dealer needed more space and an upgrade to Honda's new look.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
CORTLAND -- Apostolakis Honda has opened a new showroom and turned its former showroom into the home of its new Mazda franchise.
The dealership was squeezed for space at its original building on Elm Road Extension and was faced with a request from Honda that all dealers upgrade to a standard exterior design, said Joe Hrusovsky, general sales manager.
The new look features Honda's blue and gray colors, large windows and a wavy blue canopy that streaks across a circular entryway. The Honda Store in Boardman remodeled its dealership with the new look last year.
John Apostolakis, owner of the Cortland dealership, decided to put up a larger building next to the original one, rather than remodel the building that his late father, George, built nearly 30 years ago.
"When you remodel, you are handcuffed by what the old building allows you to do," Hrusovsky said.
Confidence
The multimillion-dollar investment shows the confidence that John Apostolakis has in the Mahoning Valley, he said.
The new building has 15,000 square feet, compared with 10,000 for the original building.
Hrusovsky said the new showroom is big enough for five or six cars, compared with two or three in the other building.
It also has more space between sales areas so customers have more privacy and a larger customer waiting area. This room is equipped with high-speed Internet access for customers with laptop computers.
The service department also is larger, with two additional lifts and an area that allows customers to drop off their cars inside the building.
Hrusovsky said the dealership added a Mazda franchise last November in anticipation of the expansion. Dealership officials wanted a line that would complement Honda and think they found it in Mazda, which is emphasizing sporty vehicles and no-interest financing, Hrusovsky said.
shilling@vindy.com