RIVERDALE -- City officials said they are happy to have the new Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership within city boundaries.
"It means a new development where existed a blight before," said Randy Daily, Riverdale community development administrator, of the 9-acre site that once housed the Cinedome theaters. "It has made it an active piece of land with an active tax base."
In a period of time when city officials are battling sales tax redistribution mandated by the Legislature, a new vehicle dealership can't hurt, Daily said at the grand opening Tuesday.
"We appreciate our commercial base here," he said. "It has made Riverdale what it is."
Troy Bullard, general manager of the dealership, said he is embracing a "live here, work here, buy here" approach.
Since the Larry H. Miller group bought the land in January 2010, it has faced a variety of obstacles in order to build, including demolition of an easily identifiable theater.
"It has not been an easy process," Mayor Bruce Burrows said. "But I commend them for going the extra mile on every single thing. For example, they have landscaped beyond their boundaries in every direction and accommodated their neighbors."
Daily said the group even gave extra land to the neighboring Alpine Church for parking.
Tony Schnurr, president of the Larry H. Miller Automotive Group, called the dealership "the gateway to auto row in Riverdale."
"The time to open couldn't be better, with the economy on the mend and great products to offer local residents in the community," Schnurr said.
"The car business is a good industry," said Greg Miller, CEO of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. "It allows us to test our talents, think on our feet, and engage in competition. But without our employees, it wouldn't be possible."
The dealership employs 72 at its 1481 W. Riverdale Road location. It boasts a 55,000-square-foot building, including a showroom, expanded customer waiting lounge, and three times the available service bays of its former location.
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