Menomonee Falls-based Russ Darrow Group Inc. plans to move its Russ Darrow Honda dealership from 9301 W. Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, about 3.5 miles southwest to West Metro Boulevard, also in Milwaukee.
Russ Darrow plans to build a 36,717-square-foot building for the new dealership on a seven-acre vacant lot along Metro Boulevard between a Bergstrom Automotive used car dealership and the Bergstrom Chevrolet and Hummer dealership at 11100 W. Metro Blvd.
Russ Darrow Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Russ Darrow Group, said the company wants to move the dealership because the Brown Deer Road dealership needs more space and Metro Boulevard has become a destination for car shoppers. In addition to the Bergstrom dealerships, there is also a Smart dealership, a Heiser Toyota dealership and a Carmax Auto Superstore on the street.
A newer facility will provide more appealing customer experience, Darrow said. Darrow said he hopes to start construction for the new dealership in spring and complete the project in 12 months. However, the troubled national and global economy could delay the project. "Obviously, the economy is going to be the determining factor to decide the exact time we start digging," he said.
The Brown Deer Road Russ Darrow Honda dealership is adjacent to the Russ Darrow Nissan and Suzuki dealerships. Darrow said the company is committed to those brands and may eventually move those dealerships to Metro Boulevard. However, that will also depend on the condition of the national economy. The company might sell the Brown Deer Road Honda property, or all of the Russ Darrow properties on Brown Deer Road. If a buyer is interested in all of the Darrow Brown Deer Road properties, that could precipitate a relocation of the Nissan and Suzuki dealerships.
"That’s not firmed up at the moment," Darrow said. "There’s so many moving parts. A lot depends on it there is interest in the property."
