A long-time Coquitlam auto dealership has closed its doors and is opening up under a new banner to serve its Tri-City customers.
On Monday (March 14), Coquitlam Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram closed its doors at 2960 Christmas Way, after nearly 50 years.
And today (Tuesday, March 15) the dealership re-opened as Journey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 1300 Dominion Ave. at the former location of Art Knapp in Port Coquitlam.
It’s an exciting transition for the business, said Jeff Kornatowsky, general manager of Coquitlam Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and one of the partners of Journey Chrysler.
“With one dealership closing forever and the other opening the next day, Journey CDJR had the great fortune of having a full slate of experienced people to work at their new dealership,” stated Kornatowsky in an email.
The move reflects changes to Coquitlam which is planning for transit-oriented development at the Christmas Way site.
Owned by Marcon Developments, the property is slated for six market residential towers, three rental towers and an office tower on the site and two adjacent properties.
Kornatowsky said shutting down the long-time Coquitlam dealership, which has been selling cars since the 1970s, has been bittersweet.
However opening a new dealership, with some major innovations to serve the car-buying public, has softened the blow.
“It is sad to be leaving Coquitlam after so long but with the Skytrain arriving across the street putting the old property into high density/mixed use in the OCP, the writing was on the wall.”
It’s taken just 15 months to get the new Journey dealership up and running from land purchase to opening, which Kornatowsky said has been amazing given the challenges of COVID-19.
However, he expects customers will be intrigued by the new store, which will have the first design-built Jeep Studio in Canada as well as the first Jeep Store in Canada for all Jeep supplies and accessories.
Stellantis, the worlds fourth largest automaker by volume, experimented with Jeep stores in the U.S. to much success and the Jeep Store at Journey will offer branded merchandise for updating vehicles, as well as clothing, hats, toys, outdoor items, such as tents, and off roading equipment.
“This is (we believe) the only Jeep dealership in the world that has a true Jeep Store in the showroom,” said Kornatowsky, who noted that the service and parts departments have state-of-the art innovations, as well.
As a Ram Heavy Duty dealer, Journey’s service department will feature a 30,000 pound heavy duty hoist for servicing work vehicles for some of the many local light industrial businesses.
In addition, the new Journey dealership has over 30,000 square feet and includes a 30,000 square foot roof top parking lot.
