On hold since 2008, the new location is projected to open in September and have a better draw because of the favorable demographics found in Liberty, West Chester and Fairfield townships, Fiehrer said.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge to get those people to come west of Bypass 4 because I don’t really have any other type of anchors around me that truly appeal to my current customer base,” he said.
The dealership’s new location is adjacent to Ohio 129, less than a mile from the Bypass Ohio 4 and Princeton Road intersection and situated between Menards to the west and Kohl’s, Office Depot and H.H. Gregg to the east.
The relocation will be a positive move, said Ray Tenley, general sales manager.
“Out at Bridgewater Falls, with everything fresh and new and clean ... I think with a new building out there we’ll be able to double our business in 90 days,” Tenley said.
Fiehrer Motors initially purchased acreage at the Princeton and Gilmore roads area in 2006 and started planning for the relocation but suspended the project when the economy soured.
“We went from all manufacturers in the United States selling 16 million new cars a year seasonally adjusted and that dropped down literally overnight down to 9 million,” Fiehrer said.
The decision to revive the project came about a year ago, as profitability rose anew, he said. “Consistently, we’re seeing double digit percentage gains over the last couple of years, so now’s the time to take advantage of it,” Fiehrer said.
The move will shift the dealership’s 44 employees into the township and create five to eight additional jobs, he said.
Hamilton still will benefit from Fiehrer Motors, even with the business in Fairfield Twp. That’s because the dealership’s new location is within a joint economic development district initiated by Hamilton and Fairfield Twp., and 75 percent of all revenues collected go to Hamilton, according to Steve Morgan, a township trustee.
“They’re still getting money,” Morgan said. “They didn’t lose the whole thing, which is a plus.”
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