Old Gas Station In Vernon Turning Into Vintage Look Dealership

VERNON, CT — Plans have been submitted to transform a rundown old filling station and garage on Route 30 in Vernon into an auto dealership with a vintage look that will feature classic cars and mainstream vehicles.

Ed Johansen, the owner of Mill Street Auto in Vernon, bought the property at 987 and 985 Hartford Turnpike — the local address for the parcel on Route 30 — about a year ago. He has been steadily making improvements to the old station that has pumps advertising gas at less than a dollar a gallon and a less-than-polished look.

Johansen had been quietly hinting that he wanted to restore the old look and turn the place into a dealership and now has on file at the planning department a site layout and a request for a special permit to operate the business. Johansen said since the price of classic vehicles is at a premium and the vehicle inventory is low these days, he would like to combine classic cars with newer cars.

He said he would continue to offer bargain cars at Mill Street Auto in the Rockville section of Vernon.

"It's a nice piece of property, but it needs work," Johansen told Patch Tuesday. "We have another set of gas pumps in addition to the ones already out there and we want to persevere the look of the old station. It might be slow to finish, but it will look pretty good once we're done."

According to documents on file at the Vernon Planning Department, plans include restoring the "antique gas island" and using vintage signs on the property. Part of the showroom will include a preserved garage area, according to the plans.

Johansen said that, under ideal circumstances, construction could begin this summer but he added he did not want anyone to hold him to that date. The local regulatory process could have come complications, he said.