Brad Barker Honda readies for expansion
BLOOMINGTON — In the midst of troubling times for the auto industry, one local car dealership is bucking the trend as it readies for an expansion. Bloomington’s Brad Barker Honda plans to demolish the former Dodge dealership behind its current facility at the corner of Veterans Parkway and G.E. Road and build a new service center this year.
The dealership needs more space to handle customer demand and especially wants to focus on its express service for walk-in customers, said Julie Spaulding, service manager. Honda wants to accommodate walk-in customers, those who drop off their car for the day and people who set up appointments ‘” and it doesn’t want to turn anyone away, Spaulding said. ‘њOnce you’re full, you’re full,’ќ she said. ‘њWe’re building this for the customer.’ќ While U.S.
vehicle sales dropped about 2.5 percent in 2007, sales at Brad Barker Honda increased about 6 percent, said Mike James, marketing and public relations manager. Honda hopes to begin demolition at the beginning of March and finish the multi-million dollar project in September, Spaulding said. While exact plans are still in the works, the service center will be about 20,000 square feet and have 15 work stations, she said.
Honda’s current service area has eight maintenance and repair stations, plus one bay for work to prepare customers’ new and used car purchases. The center has dedicated only one lift for its express service, but Spaulding wants four or five such lifts in the new area. Also, nine vehicles will fit in a new check-in area that will flow directly to the work bays, Spaulding said. ‘њIt’s all going to be choreographed to be very time-saving and efficient,’ќ she said. Honda, 1602 G.E.