Established Vehicle Dealership Company Beefing Up Presence In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Though one of the one of the largest car dealership companies in the region has owned a long-dormant parcel that once housed to another car dealership for months, what the land will actually look like remains a mystery.

Balize Auto Group, however, has beefed up its presence with the purchase of the former Economy Oil car wash at the other end of town.

That was word from Vernon Community and Economic Development Coordinator Shaun Gately Monday.

The land at 808 Talcottville Road has been empty for more than a decade after being vacated by the former Clyde Chevrolet dealership. Accentuating the dealership's demise was a roof collapse at building's service garage spurred by heavy accumulations from the October 2011 freak blizzard.

Balise bought the land in March for $700,000, records show. No formal site plan has been submitted for the tract, Gately said.

"We've had a few discussions, but nothing on paper yet," Gately said.

The Balise name, though, now occupies the signs at the car wash located at 56 Talcottville Road in the Vernon Circle section of town. The transition has taken place over the past couple of weeks and the signs were clearly visible last week.

Balise is a third-generation family owned company that first emerged in 1919. It has grown from a small garage in Hatfield, MA to 24 new and pre-owned car dealerships, two credit-assisting pre-owned car outlets, four collision repair centers and three car washes since. It is generally considered to largest automotive dealers in New England.

Gately said resident could be some improvements made to the land next to the Balise parcel owned by Scranton Motors.