'Multi-Millions'

Spent To Build

Larger Facility

0n 5.5 Acres With

17 Service Bays

By DOUGLAS WATSON

Managing Editor

The Gateway Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership opened Monday at its new location -- 5.5 acres in the 900 block of W. Andrew Johnson Highway.

The local auto dealership on Saturday moved about 350 new cars to its new site from its former, smaller facility at 1201 Tusculum Blvd.

The rows of vehicles for sale are now arrayed in front of the new, 30,000-sq.-ft. building, a handsome building.

Gateway Ford Lincoln Mercury's co-owners have been Daniel Johnson, Kent Bewley and Lennie Lawson.

They announced in an interview Wednesday, however, that James "Buck" Holt, the dealership's sales manager, has been added as a fourth owner.

It was also announced that Johnson has been promoted by his partners to Gateway's "designated dealer."

Reasons For Move

Johnson said Wednesday the move was made to give the dealership more space to display vehicles for sale, and to provide a highly visible and accessible headquarters along the 11E Bypass.

The new location has much more traffic -- and is more convenient for many customers -- than the Tusculum Boulevard site where the business has been located for more than 50 years under a succession of owners.

The new facility features a large, bright showroom that can display six or seven cars, compared with Gateway's former showroom, which had room for no more than two vehicles.

The new building is 158 feet by 192 feet in size and has a 17-bay service department.

There is also a five-bay "quick lane" to provide prompt servicing of minor auto maintenance needs. Motorists can bring in their vehicles for routine maintenance without an appointment on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to a parts department and numerous sales and administrative offices, there is an attractive customer waiting room which features a television set and free wireless access. There is also an adjoining, glass-walled play area for children.

Behind the main building is a separate building, not yet completed, where vehicles will be washed.

Employees Praised

Johnson praised Gateway's personnel for their extra work in preparing the new facility.

He said a team of employees devoted most of Saturday to a process of driving 300-plus vehicles from the former dealership location to the new one, then being bused back to the old lot to repeat the process until all vehicles had been relocated.

After the new facility opened Monday morning, Johnson said, the pride and enthusiasm that Gateway's employees feel in the new location was quite evident.

He noted that a visiting Ford Motor Co. representative called the new Gateway facility one of the most attractive he has seen in this region.

The owners declined to say, specifically, how much the new facility cost. Johnson simply said, "multi-millions."

Gateway plans a grand opening ceremony for sometime in June.

The building's general contractor was C & C Millwright Maintenance Co., Inc.

Construction was supervised by Kandice Bewley, vice president of Bewley Properties.

Gateway Ford Lincoln Mercury formerly was Don Smith Ford-Lincoln-Mercury. The dealership was purchased from Don Smith by Lawson, Bewley and Johnson in October 2005.

Bewley said the Gateway's former three-acre site at 1201 Tusculum Blvd. is "for sale. We have a potential buyer." He declined to comment further, saying the sale has not been finalized.