Used Car Dealership Leaves Vernon, Car Wash Work Progressing

VERNON, CT — A used car dealership that has been in Vernon for the better part of a decade has moved to Manchester. Meanwhile, work continues to open a new car wash being built by a longtime business in town.

The car dealership maintaned an outdoor lot on Route 83, just west of the Dart Hill Road intersection. The inventory disappeared late last week and a sign was hung indicating the business was moving to 119 Spencer St. in Manchester.

Another sign boasted that the business had a "10-year sales history" of more than 400 transactions per year at the Vernon location.

Vernon Economic Development coordinator Shaun Gately said the dealership owner moved the business because of a "lease situation," and zoning regulations that limited the amount of cars allowed on the lot.

Meanwhile grading work was in full swing at the site of a new cash wash on Route 83.

The owners of Economy Oil Change are building a car wash at the former location of an Exxon/Mobil gas station at 56 Talcottville Road, the local address for that section of Route 83. It's a patch of land across from the Tri-City Plaza shopping center measuring .98 acres. It was cleared years ago and blends in with a state communuter lot on its side of Route 83.

Economy Car Wash Express will be a 4,988-square-foot, fully enclosed car wash facility, with exterior vacuums, Gately said.

Economy Oil has had a lube and repair business on Route 30 for years. Gately said last week the project was awaiting the April 1 opening of area asphalt plants. On Monday, grading was taking place on the site to set it up for driveway and lot paving.

(Chris Dehnel/Patch)