Hartford Business Journal

6 Hartford Business Journal • July 9, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Reporter's Notebook Gregory Seay | gseay@HartfordBusiness.com Real Estate, Economic Development/Construction, Banking & Finance and Manufacturing CONSTRUCTION New Country finishes Hartford showroom spree N ew Country Motor Cars Inc., one of the nation's largest domestic-import auto retailers, made Hartford's North Mead- ows home in 1995, with its purchase of two local Mercedes-Benz and BMW franchises. Right away, the Saratoga, N.Y., operator of dealerships in Connecticut and four other states, expanded its showroom at the foot of the Rev. Moody overpass, linking Weston Street and the Meadows to downtown. The expansion housed Mercedes-Benz's then-new line of M- Class sport utility vehicles. Later, the SUV showroom gave way to New Country's Mini Cooper franchise, when German automaker BMW re-introduced the British-born Mini to legions of owners in the U.S. and Europe in the early 2000s. In 2014, New Country built and relocated its Mini showroom-service center to the opposite side of Weston Street, adjacent to its Mercedes-Benz sales-service campus. Nearly two decades later, New Country has just completed another makeover of its North Meadows BMW Center showroom, spending $6.5 million this time around to mesh with BMW's "future retail program'' concept, says Tim Parker, New Country's vice president overseeing its three Hartford dealerships. A year earlier, the BMW Center service area was expanded to include extra service bays and a new car wash. While traditional brick-and-mortar retailers like Sears and Toys R' Us succumb to the new reality of online shopping, auto dealerships so far appear immune to the trend. Indeed, dealerships nationwide are being built anew, expanded or remodeled. New Country's Hartford showrooms are among a dozen domestic and import auto fran- chises comprising "dealers' row" along Weston Street. Two blocks north of New Country's campuses, a Range Rover dealership is rising on the former Baronet Coffee site, 77 Weston St. Parker said parent New Country Motors, generating about $2.5 billion in annual sales and delivering about 30,000 new-used cars/ trucks from its 32 dealerships — seven in Connecticut, and the rest in Florida, Mary- land, New York and Pennsylvania — was satisfied with its previ- ous 33,500-square-foot BMW showroom at 1 Weston Park Road, but wanted a larger space with added amenities. The new facility is now 37,000 square feet. This time, Parker says, New Country is confi- dent its building-renovation spree is over — at least for now. The former Mini showroom was razed in mid-June, giving the expanded BMW store more curb visibility, plus freeing up 72 new parking spaces for new and used vehicles, he said. New Country's BMW store is loaded with customer comforts like lounge areas with flat-screen TVs and a Wi-Fi-equipped "quiet" lounge. High ceilings and a huge display floor for as many as eight vehicles create a light, open feeling for customers and staff. "Ongoing investments in facilities — both corporate and dealer — are part of maintaining the identity and value of the brand,'' said BMW of North America spokesman Kenn Sparks. "We are a premium company selling a premium product. Our customers expect our facilities to reflect the brand. "Yes, it's expensive and yes, it's ongoing, but it's part of what's required to lead and succeed in the premium segment. The process of retail is chang- ing but customer expectations of a premium brand are no less than before." Along with the expansion, New Country has 15 new hires: seven new technicians; four salespeo- ple; and an extra "product genius'' to the three on staff, who aid BMW buyers in understanding and using all their vehicles' embedded technology and features, such as "voice-read'' text messaging. Expanding its BMW Center and demolishing the former Mini-Benz showroom blocking its view from Weston Street should cure, said Parker, who lives with his family in West Hartford, a common annoyance for him and his New Country mates. "People would go to the Mercedes-Benz dealer- ship,'' he said, "and ask if there was a BMW dealer- ship nearby.'' DEAL WATCH Hartford industrial property sells for $2.1M A 33,280-square-foot Hartford industrial property at 80 Weston St. has sold for $2.1 million, city records show. The buyer was BHD 80 Realty LLC out of Secaucus, N.Y., city records show. Richard Balik is listed as BHD's managing member, state records show. The seller was 80 Weston Street LLC. Marvin Rosenblatt is listed as 80 West Street LLC's managing member. The building has been home to Eckart & Finard Inc., a wholesale supplier of fastener and related products. New Country Motor Cars Vice President Tim Parker at the new BMW Center. PHOTO | GREGORY SEAY $690K East Hartford industrial sale A 40,401-square-foot East Hartford industrial building recently sold for $690,000, brokers say. Buyers Gary and Elaine Rooke bought the building on 1.58 acres at 654 Tolland St. from Gator Realty LLC. Sentry Commercial was sole broker. Summit Security's Hartford space New York's Summit Security Services has leased 2,200 square feet in Hartford's South End. Summit Security, which serves Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, leased space at 864 Wethersfield Ave. from landlord McGuire Properties. Colliers International was exclusive lease broker. WaterCo relos in Windsor WaterCo of New England has relocated its water-supply and delivery operations to larger leased space in Windsor. WaterCo recently relocated from 6,000 square feet at 530 Hayden Station Road in town to 9,520 square feet at 920 River St. Sentry Commercial represented WaterCo. Windsor Management represented landlord Kennedy Parks LLC in the lease. Navigators' Farmington expansion Navigators Insurance has leased an extra 4,183 square feet for an expansion of its Farmington offices, brokers say. Navigators Management Co. Inc. doubled its previous 2,000 square feet of office space at 76 Batterson Park Road with landlord Fusco Farmington Associates LP. Colliers International was the landlord's lease broker. 80 Weston St., Hartford. 654 Tolland St., East Hartford. 920 River St., Windsor. PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED

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