Successful sales and increasing service requests are such that Subaru-Prescott is demolishing its old facility and replacing it with a contemporary 24,000-square-foot building at 3230 Willow Creek Road on the northeast edge of the city.
General Manager Dave “Mac” Macfarlane says substantial population growth in the greater community and increasing demand for Subaru automotive products is driving the expansion.
Sun State Builders, a major construction firm that builds throughout the state, is working with local sub-contractors and suppliers to build the new multi-million-dollar facility. Macfarlane anticipates it will be completed by October.
When complete, the building will contain a large interior showroom and sales offices, management and administrative offices and a customer waiting room. Maintenance and service bays – a dozen of them – will be around the back, as will a car washing and detailing area.
Dedicated show space for new and used cars will be significantly larger than in the past, Macfarlane said. “I anticipate we’ll have at least 150 cars on the all-paved lot.” He noted that on the north side of the dealership, what used to be a steep and virtually barren dirt slope, has been rip-rapped with large rocks to stop erosion and prevent flooding.
The number of employees – currently around 50 – likely will increase to accommodate anticipated auto sales and service.
Macfarlane emphasized that experienced senior Subaru personnel will continue serving customers. Among some he named were Joe Porto, business manager; Mark Falk and Jason Jenkins, sales managers; Darrin Rogers, service manager; and Christian Robinson, director of internet sales and marketing.
Robinson, who himself owns three Subarus, has been with the Findlay Auto Group for more than six years. He noted that Findlay Auto Group is one of the largest privately owned auto firms in the U.S. Because it operates in six states in the Southwest and West, the Subaru dealership has access to an inventory of thousands of vehicles and claims it can meet the needs of almost any buyer.
“My experience in auto marketing and digital location of specific vehicles is, I think, exceptional. I can help most buyers find exactly the vehicles they want in short order,” Robinson said.
The Findlay Presence
It was a year ago this month that Findlay Auto Group had purchased the four dealerships that had belonged to Tim’s Auto Group in Prescott.
But now, there are only three – Buick GMC, Toyota and Subaru. The fourth, Hyundai, was officially shuttered April 19.
The decision was based on economics, said Findlay executive Jamaal McCoy. He said the company had decided to focus on the remaining three leaderships.
The now vacated Hyundai building is being used as the temporary sales and service facility for Subaru until the new facility is completed. The company says no employees have been terminated.
Sharing the Love
Macfarlane pointed out that no matter where Subaru dealerships are located, national or international, the motto remains the same: Share the Love.
“That’s important to know in this, the 50th anniversary of Subaru,” he said.
He admits some might think that phrase a bit hokey, but he emphasized it is a genuine commitment that Subaru retailers have made worldwide. Macfarlane explained while the Subaru dealership is one of those available through the Findlay Auto Group in Prescott, the dealership also is directly linked to Subaru of America.
If you pay any attention to Subaru ads or commercials, you’ll see the Subaru Love Promise. What does it mean? Simply this: Subaru will partner with a wide variety of community non-profits and charities to give back to a community. We mean it when we say we will serve and support causes and passions that are close to the hearts of people.”
He cited one recent example. Subaru Prescott selected Prescott Area Toys for Tots as the recipient of bicycles for the 2017 Christmas season. About 50 bicycles were distributed among boys and girls.
Another example – the donation of 500 turkeys to the community food bank.
Still another instance of giving back to the community was that for every Subaru vehicles sold, $100 was pledged to the Yavapai Human Society. Near the end of November 2017, Findlay and Subaru personnel presented the humane society with a check for $7,800.
It is a simple premise: “To give back to the community that gives so much to us,” said Macfarlane. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
PHOTO CAPTION:
This rendering of the Subaru facility currently under construction at 3230 Willow Creek Road illustrates how the 24,000 square-foot building will accommodate an increased number of vehicles.
Courtesy photo
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