Tag Archives: Columbus Dispatch

McDorman sells Chevy dealership on Gender Road

Columbus Dispatch 08/25/2011

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2011/08/25/mcdorman-sells-chevy-dealershipon-gender-road.html

Bob McDorman Chevrolet, a Canal Winchester landmark for more than four decades, is getting a new owner and a new name.

But McDorman, the dealership’s longtime namesake, doesn’t intend to drive into the sunset just yet.

Although he’s sold a majority stake in the business to Cincinnati-based Jeff Wyler Automotive Family Inc., McDorman will retain a 15 percent interest.

“The best part of this deal is that it will give me a chance to clean out this office,” he said, eyeing the mountain of automotive memorabilia that surrounds his desk.

McDorman, 79, said maintaining partial ownership of the dealership will enable him to stay involved for four more years, so he can retire for good on the 50th anniversary of his becoming a Chevrolet dealer.

McDorman got into the business 46 years ago when he bought the former Ralph Smith Chevrolet dealership in Groveport. He moved to the current location, 5885 Gender Rd., in 1968.

Wyler has known McDorman for years. As a former GM factory rep, Wyler supplied McDorman with vehicles in the 1960s and ’70s.

“That was how I first met Bob,” Wyler said. “When I heard he might be getting out of the business, I called him immediately, and when I heard he wanted to retire, we agreed to have lunch. Fifteen minutes into lunch, we had a deal.”

The Gender Road dealership will be renamed Jeff Wyler Chevrolet as soon as the sale is approved by General Motors. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Marc Hellman, the dealership’s general manager, said the business is enjoying a good year — with new-car sales up 39 percent from 2010. The service department has seen a 35 percent jump in business, he added.

“I think the biggest thing is that the Wyler group will provide us with capital and the tools to enable us to get to the next level of developing the business and of continued community participation,” Hellman said.

Wyler said he expects to make some physical improvements to bring the dealership’s showroom into compliance with GM’s new branding standards.

Scott Bristow, Wyler’s son-in-law, will become president of the Canal Winchester operation, but much of the existing management will remain, Wyler said.

In addition to a minority stake in the dealership, McDorman will hold on to his storied Corvette collection, the centerpiece of Canal Winchester’s annual Corvette & Classic Chevy Show. The event, now in its 38th year, has raised more than $250,000 for Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“I believe in helping the community, the churches and charities,” McDorman said. “I’ll spend the rest of my life continuing to do that.”

Post Office is expected to make late summer move to Kingsdale

ThisWeek UA 1/12/2011 — Reprinted in Columbus Dispatch

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2011/01/12/post-office-is-expected-to-make-late-summer-move-to-kingsdale.html?sid=104

    

The U.S. Postal Service is shipping out from its current location at 3700 Riverside Drive to a new retail location at the Kingsdale Shopping Center.

The new operation is a cost-cutting measure for the postal service, according to Richard Hancock, a real estate specialist for the USPS Eastern Facilities Service Office. However, the savings will not affect services, and it should provide added convenience for many Upper Arlington residents with the newly built facility and more centralized location.

In early 2010, city council worked with the USPS to survey residents about the best location for the new branch office. The USPS looked at sites at 2812 Fishinger Road, 3280 Riverside Drive, 2121 Riverside Drive and then at the Kingsdale, Arlington Commons and Fiesta shopping centers. Survey results from the February poll showed a 58 percent of residents felt that Kingsdale would be the best fit.

Although resident input was not the only factor in making this decision, the USPS did take it into consideration and ultimately came to the same conclusion as residents.

An official move date has not yet been announced, but Hancock stated that the timeframe for the move is scheduled for sometime between the end of July and the beginning of September.

While the current location handles mail sorting and distribution functions, the new location only will serve as a retail location.

“The mail sorting that was occurring at the Riverside location will move down to the Twin Rivers location,” Hancock said. “(We are) not aware of any planned job cuts associated with the move.”

The new location is expected to continue to provide similar lobby services available at the current location such as shipping, passport applications and packaging and postage sales. The new location also will continue to offer post office box services. Lobby hours are expected to remain the same as at the current location: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

When asked if the current facilities on Riverside Drive will revert back into retail shopping space. City economic development director, Matt Shad said, “The current owner has not made any announcements as to how the space and property will be used once the lease with the U.S. Post Office concludes.”