Dealership Group Poised To Open In Arlington Heights

Plans are in motion to deem Dundee Road as the new car corridor. 

The Napleton Dealership Group has plans to open a new Chrysler dealership at 1155 West Dundee Road, in which they have entered into an agreement to purchase the property. The dealership also plans to purchase the building at 1350 Shure Drive, which would be used for vehicle storage.  

"We want to be here, it can generate more sales in Arlington Heights," Bernard Citron, Napleton's attorney said at the Monday night Committee-of-the-whole meeting. "We are anxious to go forward with this project." 

The dealership is proposing to remodel the northern most office building at the southwest corner of Dundee Road and Kennicot and convert it to a showroom and remove a portion of the south building to provide additional parking for existing and relocated office tenants. 

The Bob Rohrman Auto Group had previously held the Chrysler franchise but has lost their rights, according to Citron.

The committee recommended that the village board approve an agreement with North American Automotive Services that would potentially generate $4.8 million over 10 years and a rebate to Napleton of $2.25 million over that same time period. 

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However, some village trustees had reservations about the dealership not entering into a deal that would keep them their for a long period of time. 

Trustee John Scaletta, who's in support of the dealership, wants to add language to the proposed agreement that the dealership doesn't leave Arlington Heights in pursue of another tax incentive.

"It’s a very limited scope, we wouldn’t be going anywhere,” said Bruce Etheridge, the chief financial officer for Napleton. "We just hate to be tied down, [we have] no intentions going for a suburban tax incentive."

Etheridge said Napleton is "excited" to come to Arlington Heights.

Trustee Mike Sidor echoed similar sentiments as Scaletta, saying the proposed deal doesn't have any "teeth."

"I don't want this to be a deal breaker," Sidor said. 

With close to a $20 million investment, "I wouldn’t fear them leaving," Trustee Norman Breyer said. 

The dealership is slated to open in early 2013 and would begin with eight employees. The Arlington Heights location would be the largest in the Midwest territory, Etheridge said.

The Arlington Heights Village Board will vote on the dealership at their .