Construction continues for future Deacon Jones Autoplex
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 31, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Michael Hall with Southeastern Interiors works on the framing inside of one of the buildings being constructed on McLain Street that will be the future home of the Deacon Jones AutoPlex.
Construction is moving forward at the future Deacon Jones AutoPlex slated to open in January near U.S. 70.
The AutoPlex will house the Deacon Jones Nissan and Deacon Jones Ford and Lincoln dealerships, which will move from their current locations in the city, said Ken Jones, chief executive officer of Deacon Jones.
"We believe, with the current schedule, we'll be completed by Jan. 1," Jones said. "Due to the aging facility and space at Nissan as well as the tremendous need for service expansion space at Deacon Jones Ford, we decided to relocate both of those dealerships to what we will call the Deacon Jones AutoPlex.
"We hope to be transitioning locations early in January."
Construction started in early March on two dealership buildings on a 17-acre lot along McLain Street. The property is near several other automotive dealerships, including Toyota of Goldsboro and Chevrolet of Goldsboro.
Deacon Jones Ford and Lincoln, located on 11th Street near Wayne Memorial Drive, is planned to move into a new 33,000-square-foot building at the AutoPlex.
Deacon Jones Nissan, currently at 1220 W. Grantham St., across U.S. 70 from Deacon Jones Honda, will also move into a new 22,000-square-foot building at the AutoPlex.
The transition will take place in early January, following the holiday season, Jones said. The dealerships will have their own showrooms, vehicle lots and service areas.
"They'll be state-of-the-art facilities, completely air conditioned in the sales area, service area and customer service writeup and the customer delivery," Jones said. "All of them will be completely climate controlled, which is very rare in this part of the state."
The AutoPlex property offers additional space for a third dealership, and company owners plan to construct another building on the 17-acre lot in the future. Plans are in the works to relocate Deacon Jones Honda to the AutoPlex within the next two years, Jones said.
"We hope to relocate to a new, modern location within the next 12 to 18 months at the AutoPlex site on Highway 70," Jones said.
Deacon Jones also operates a Kia dealership on U.S. 70, which is currently planned to remain at its current site, Jones said.
The four Deacon Jones dealerships in Goldsboro are part of a larger company with 12 locations, including four in the Selma-Smithfield area and others in Fayetteville, Garner, Princeton and Kinston.
The family owned company is increasing its presence in the Goldsboro market, with the recent purchase of Deacon Jones Honda.
"We work here, we live here and we worship here," Jones said. "We consider Smithfield and Goldsboro homes because we live right in the middle of both. Typically, family owned operations don't do that well outside of a 50-mile radius.
"With the growth that Goldsboro and Wayne County hope to experience in the future, we believe it'll make a good future home for our franchises and investment."
The two U.S. 70 dealership buildings are an estimated $3.3 million investment, according to Goldsboro inspection records.