Bridgeport’s Danny Cava has become one of the state’s biggest car dealers with savvy business skills, a good product, as well as an equally recognizable catch phrase.

 

After first acquiring the Toyota dealership just off of Interstate 79 in Marion County, Cava named the business Dan Cava Toyota World. After that, the phrase “Shop the World” was used in all of his promotions.

 

The world expanded a few years ago when Dan Cava’s Used Car World located on the corner of Johnson Avenue and Lodgeville Road opened in April of 2016. It expanded again when he acquired Dan Cava Buick GMC, which had been operated on Old Bridgeport Hill for decades by Bob Trickett.

 

While “the world” has not grown again, it has relocated – at least the Dan Cava Buick GMC part. As reported initially on Connect-Bridgeport in August of 2021, Cava was closing the used car dealership to make way for the Buick GMC dealership.

 

At that time, the process to add 12 service stalls, a training room, a locker room, a special equipment area, as well as a lunchroom was built. The cost for that was $566,000 and was required for the dealership. Huffman Construction did the work, according to the city permit that was filed in July of 2021.

 

"When you look at the total investment from acquiring the property originally to the dealerships and everything that has been done, you're looking at an investment at that site of more than $7 million."

 

The property in question was the former Johnson Center Plaza. The plaza was destroyed by a fire on April 17, 2013 and then Cava purchased it and built the intiial Dan's Car World. That was followed by the upgrade to the new dealership with an addition that covers 8,009 square feet. The entire building’s footprint will cover 16,247 square feet, according to plans filed with the city.

 

The new sevice addition can service all GM cars and all GM cars under warranty. Cava said the move to the new store and into the new addition as well was done entirely by his staff, who he praised for their efforts.
 

Cava said the business began selling cars Saturday and the shop opened Monday.

 

"We've sold cars every day," said Cava. "The building is not 100 percent done, but we want everyone to come by and see it. We also want to sell anyone a car because we've got cars coming, but the best way to get a new car is to reserve one."

 

The dealership has new and used cars currently on site. He said once things return to a semblance of normalcy in the car world he hopes to up to 180 new and used vehicles on site. 

 

The new dealership is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sales side of the operation is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business will be closed on Sunday.

 

Visit their Web site HERE for more information. 

 

Editor's Note: The new dealership is shown in the top photo as well as the new service bays in the second photo. Dan Cava is shown in a file photo below.