This past August, I reported that Ourisman had leased ground floor retail space in the Adagio condominium building in downtown Bethesda. Now the auto dealership giant has confirmed my scoop by posting some Ourisman Jeep of Bethesda "coming soon" signage in the windows at 6826 Wisconsin Avenue. Can't wait to see the new Grand Wagoneer in these windows in 2021.
Has Tesla broken the Car sales paradigm?
ReplyDeleteSeems odd to have a Mercedes, Honda, VW, Volvo, Audi, Acura and now a Jeep dealership all within walkable, transit focused downtown Bethesda. One would think these dealerships would sell their property to developers willing to build mixed use projects so close the transit.
ReplyDeleteYou would think a few acres on the Pike would make a better dealership than convoluted small urban sites in downtown. The VW, Volvo and Jeep dealership are the only in mixed use buildings. Imagine the density of mixed use that could be developed on the massive Mercedes, Honda and Acura sites.
I know that historically, some of these dealerships have been on the fringe of the city long before Bethesda was developed into the walkable urban area that it is today. It just seems odd that they don’t take the money and run to more affordable sites in the area.
I suppose that one benefit is that when you take your car in for service, you can walk to the Metro to get to and from work.
@6:51 It's for people located in DC. Th last DC dealership (Martens) closed a few years ago. Now there's no new car dealer in DC. Bethesda is the closest location.
ReplyDeleteI think what we'll start seeing is the Bethesda downtown location is a small showroom, then the cars are stored elsewhere and service is done elsewhere. For example, for Audi their service center is behind the McDonalds on River Road.
@ 5:55 AM -
ReplyDeleteWhat's a pa-RA-di-ghim?
Most dealers, including those on Rockville Pike, store vehicles off site these days.
ReplyDeleteDrive through the office parks in Rockville (around Piccard Drive or Upper Rock) and you'll see office surface lots full of new car inventory.
The dealers on 355 near King Farm have more space for inventory, but I expect those sites will redevelop eventually.
7:24AM
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the idea of a compact auto showroom in the base of a mixed use building, like the VW, Volvo and soon the new Jeep showrooms, but off site service. On the other hand, the Ourisman Honda, the Acura and new Euro Motor Cars take up valuable urban space, and fill the area with impact wrench noise, massive inventory in parking decks and clog the streets with car carriers.
One time on a trip to Vancouver, I saw a Mini Dealership that was almost entirely underground, with only a small glass lobby and passenger elevator, and an adjacent vehicular elevator at street level, and a large showroom one level below the street. Service and inventory was off site. Perhaps the most elegant way to sell cars in an urban location.
Impact wrench noise? Yes, I've seen plenty of "Stop the Impact Wrench Noise!" protesters out lately.
ReplyDeleteHave you walked past the Honda dealership on the CCT? At times it sounds like a pit stop at the Daytona 500, with the service area doors wide open.
ReplyDelete10:56AM Daytona 500 pit stop? Not even close. Loud doesn't begin to describe it. Or the race live, for that matter.
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