What's Happening in Gastonia, NC…

McKenney-Salinas Honda in Gastonia is planning to move to the former Toys R Us property in Franklin Square next summer.

Co-owner Sal Salinas has been working at the dealership’s current location and at other dealerships nearby for since 1985. Although he is finding it difficult and emotional to move, he said that the dealership has outgrown its current space and expects greater efficiency at the new location.

The current space sits on 4.7 acres and occupies two buildings. The dealership services 25,000 cars a year but as its car sales grow, so does that number, Salinas said. He added that there are strict dealership image demands by Honda, so it made more sense to move than to remodel a space they were trying to vacate.

When the Toys R Us store closed in early 2018 and the property became available for sale, Salinas decided that this was the time to move. The dealership paid $4m for the property and plans to invest an additional $4m to meet the image standards Honda sets. It is expected that more staff will be added many of whom may require business card printing services.

The building is 53,400 square feet in size and sits on 6.4 acres. Renovations are expected to begin early next year with the move completed by next August.