PARKERSBURG - Superior Toyota-Hyundai marked the completion of its recent expansion project with a ribbon-cutting and party Saturday evening at the East Seventh Street dealership.
The new 25,000-square-foot showroom and service center began construction in 2011 and was completed this summer, said T.R. Hathaway, general manager and co-owner of the family-owned business.
Saturday's ceremony included current and former employees, friends, business associates and others.
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Photo by Wayne Towner
Superior Toyota-Hyundai in Parkersburg held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday for its new 25,000-square-foot showroom and service center. Those participating in the ceremony were, from left, are T.R. Hathaway, general manager and co-owner; Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell; Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford; Greg Kelly, general sales manager; B.J. Hathaway, co-owner; Tom Hathaway, co-owner; Scott Hathaway, co-owner; Chuck Roberts, senior vice president with United National Bank; Walter Beatty, president of Ricop Construction Co.; A.C. Hamrick, retired service manager; Vaughn Booth, used car manager; Ryan Morris, sales consultant; and Tony Hapney, alternative finance manager.
Before Superior officials started the work, they spent a lot of time making plans and revising those plans as new ideas were considered, Hathaway said.
"We had about six revisions until we got the floorplan that we thought flowed and would be best for our customers and our employees," he said, adding changes continued throughout the process to reach the completed design and project.
Hathaway said the main reason for the expansion was the need for more space to meet customers' needs. The dealership had long outgrown its former showroom and service center, which was demolished and turned into space for the dealership's used car business.
The new facility features 16 service bays - twice the old center's capacity - and a much larger showroom. One interesting feature of the service bays are new hydraulic vehicle lifts which run off of compressed air and water instead of electricity. The new lifts cost more to install but will feature a savings in operation costs and are more environmentally friendly, Hathaway said.
In addition, the dealership's offices were moved into the new showroom, including the parts, sales and accounting offices. A car wash was added to the service department and enclosed areas were added where customers can pick up or drop off their new or serviced vehicles, which "makes the transition a lot smoother," Hathaway said.
The changes at Superior have increased the dealership's service and sales capacities and also generated new jobs.
"We've hired about six people since we built this facility, for service personnel, sales personnel, a little bit of everything," he said.
The changes at Superior are an investment in the future of the company and the community.
"I hope that our business will grow, we'll be able to hire more employees and we will have the best service for our customers. Whether it be in car sales or maintenance, our goal is to have the most satisfied customers in the Mid-Ohio Valley," Hathaway said.
