San Bernardino Auto Mall Shows Economic Growth

 A bright spot in the Inland Empire's economic picture has been the San Bernardino Auto Mall. Several automotive brands, such as Subaru and Mitsubishi, have returned to the center during the last three months according to Cliff Cummings, owner of the Toyota/Scion, Subaru and Mitsubishi dealerships.

"We have added Mitsubishi and Subaru to our Toyota and Scion franchises and I anticipate at least one more announcement by year end," Cummings said. "We are also renovating several empty buildings, creating more economic activity through the creation of local construction jobs and purchase of equipment from local businesses."

Cummings said that the return of dealerships to the auto mall shows that consumers are now thinking about making large purchases like automobiles. A thriving auto mall means that money is now circulating through the Inland Empire economy.

"Our sales are up dramatically from last year and we are in the process of filling various positions in the service, office and sales departments," Cummings said. "Each time any employer hires someone it is a boost to the local economy and, certainly, a boost to the person who gets the job."

Cummings is also hosting major events at the auto mall to draw local consumers. The San Bernardino Auto Mall recently hosted "Best of the West III," an import car show that attracted more than 300 entrants and hundreds more spectators.

"We were thrilled to host the event this year and show how the San Bernardino Auto Mall is again driving commerce in the region," Cummings said. "It’s really exciting to watch a city come back from severe economic hardships and to be a part of the process!"