Demolition makes way for revamped car dealership
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Murray Chrysler Westman began an 18-month construction project this week with the demolition of its dealership building on Richmond Avenue.
The walls started coming down at the former facility at 1550 Richmond Ave. on Tuesday, and the goal is to have the demolition finished by the middle of next week, Alternative Group operations manager Spencer Griffin told the Sun on Thursday.
Phase 1 is nearly complete, and the second phase will see the workshop side of the site demolished, he said.
Spencer Griffin (left), operations manager of Alternative Group, speaks with Murray Chrysler Westman owner Doug Murray on the site of his demolished dealership building on Richmond Avenue. Construction of a new facility is expected to take 18 months. (Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun)
Work will begin on the new facility immediately following demolition, Doug Murray, CEO of Murray Auto Group, said Thursday.
“Out of the ashes of that (dealership) is a brand new facility,” Murray said.
The new dealership will include three more service bays, an upgraded showroom and greater storage space for parts.
It will also be a consolidation of Murray Chrysler Westman with Brandon Chrysler Dodge, a dealership currently at 3250 Victoria Ave., Murray said.
The consolidation allows for a combined, efficient facility, which will serve traffic better and allow the dealership to make better use of its expenses, he said.
The vision has been a long time coming, he added, as he has been arguing the case to the car manufacturers for many years in an effort to win support for the plan.
“Finally, after asking for probably 10 years, they said yes,” Murray said. “It just made too much sense to do it.”
The vision is possible because there is a strong customer support for the automotive brands in the area, he said, and the company wants to meet its customers in a space that is more attractive and organized, he said.
A conceptual design shows the planned new Murray Chrysler Westman dealership at 1550 Richmond Ave. (Supplied)
“I wanted to build them a really good, well laid out, efficient facility. That was my vision,” Murray said. “I just kept making the case for it.”
The showroom will be more welcoming and comfortable at the new facility due to decoration and space layout, he said, adding the extra service bays and increased parts storage will enable the company to provide better service.
Staff relocated out of the the now-levelled offices during the last week of April. The team moved to Brandon Chrysler Dodge and will remain there until construction is finished, when they will all move under the same roof at the new Richmond Avenue facility.
Ficek Insurance also had to relocate out of the building. The branch moved to 1525 18th St.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com