Phil Long Dealerships of Colorado Springs, Colo., purchased a dealership with five brands to expand its presence in Las Animas County in the state.
The group on Dec. 1 acquired a Ford-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealership in Trinidad, Colo., from Jeff Cooke of Cooke Motor Co. Phil Long did not buy the Cooke Motor facility, but is renting it out. Phil Long Dealerships has renamed the dealership Phil Long Ford of Trinidad and Phil Long Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram.
The retailer, which has a Toyota store in Trinidad, said upgrades to the parts and service department are underway.
The group plans to build a new facility that will house the five brands a quarter of a mile away from the Cooke Motor location. That operation will consist of a Ford showroom and a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram showroom connected by an accessories shop.
“Behind that would be a service department and we would have a service reception on the end, but the final design of how all that comes together still isn’t settled yet,” said Kevin Shaughnessy, vice president of operations and a partner with Phil Long Dealerships.
The new dealership will be up to 25,000 square feet. Construction is expected to start next year pending city, county and manufacturer approvals, Shaughnessy told Automotive News.
Trinidad is the hometown of Jay Cimino, CEO of Phil Long Dealerships. The group has dealerships in four other cities: Colorado Springs, Denver, and Glenwood Springs, Colo.; and Raton, N.M.
Phil Long Dealerships said its Trinidad store will be overseen by General Manager Donnie Allen, who previously worked at the auto group’s other Colorado locations.
In June, Phil Long Dealerships bought a Subaru dealership in Glenwood Springs.
Phil Long Dealerships ranks No. 100 on Automotive News‘ top dealership groups list, with retail sales of 9,068 new vehicles in 2020.
