J.D. Byrider will relocate its used-car lot

By Don Shilling

BOARDMAN — J.D. Byrider plans to move its Boardman used-car lot to the former Frederick Chrysler Jeep Dodge location next week.

The local J.D. Byrider franchisee, Rob Palmer, already owns the property at 7871 Market St. His property- development company bought it for $1.9 million in April 2008.

The move will be completed when property renovations are completed, Palmer said.

Frederick had been leasing the property with the intention of moving its new-car business to a vacant dealership across the street. Chrysler Corp. stripped Frederick of its franchise in July, however, and the dealership went out of business.

Palmer said the former Frederick property has the size to allow him to consolidate his operations.

He will move his used-car operation there from its current site farther north on Market Street. The move will allow the dealership to stock between 30 and 60 cars instead of between 15 and 20.

Also, Palmer will move his service operations and franchise headquarters to the new location from facilities on Meridian Road in Youngstown.

The new location will house 46 employees.

Palmer said having a large service facility is important to the dealership because it offers a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty on every vehicle. The dealership services only cars that it sells.

The Boardman shop also will recondition cars that Palmer buys for his other dealerships.

Palmer, who lives in the Cleveland area, opened the Boardman dealership 12 years ago and then added a Niles location in 1999 and a Hermitage, Pa., location in 2000. He opened three dealerships in the Pittsburgh area in the past three years.

Last year, he was named J.D. Byrider’s franchisee of the year for those with three or more locations.

J.D. Byrider is based in Carmel, Ind., and has about 130 locations nationwide.

shilling@vindy.com