For those wondering when Bridgeport’s newest business – and new car dealership – will be open for business, it could be sooner than expected.

 

Danny Cava, the owner of Dan Cava Buick GMC, said the opening could be in the next few months. As is the case right now with all construction, his hoped-for time frame is contingent on supplies being available.

 

“I think we’ll be done with the necessary work and open by the end of the year,” said Cava. “When we open, I don’t expect all of the work to be done, but that will be taken care in short order.”

 

While the dealership will be new, it is not new to the area. Cava currently is operating the dealership on Old Bridgeport Hill, which is home to a number of car dealerships. The one he is moving was previously owned for decades by Bob Trickett.

 

Cava could not talk on the future of the building he is currently in after he departs other than to say it has been sold. He did say it will close the same day the transition is made to the new building and existing staff will relocate to the new site.

 

While Dan Cava’s Used Car World will no longer exist, used cars will at the new site of the Buick GMC dealership. Cava said the site will hold a “few hundred” cars and additional storage will be found on the lot below that he has acquired.

 

“Basically, if I have three trucks the same color you’ll see two of them in that lot and one on the main lot,” said Cava.

 

As for the construction that is featuring additions to the new building, Cava said most of the work involves service bays going into place. He’s pleased with the construction, and pleased with the location of the soon-to-be-open dealership as well as the previous one for used cars only.

 

“This site has been very good for business and this entire corridor offering cars with new dealerships (Jenkins Subaru and Hyundai along with Martin Automotive’s new Audi and Volkswagen location on Lodgeville) is a plus,” said Cava. “You have new stores, new service departments, fresh new lots and that’s all good for the customer experience. Plus, this location is right off the interstate.”

 

According to Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr, the permit was pulled for the soon-to-be-new dealership at $566,000 on July 13. That includes the service stalls, a lunchroom, training room, locker room, and special equipment. It does not cover the cost of all the additions that will be added.

 

“When you figure it all in, you’re looking north of $3 million,” said Cava. “When you look at the amount invested since acquiring the property for Dan’s Car World, we’re above $6 million, and it’s been a good investment.”

 

The addition is 8,009 square feet. Once completed, the entire building’s footprint will cover 16,247 square feet.

 

Editor's Note: Top two photos show work being done to the back part of the exisiting structure, whiel the bottom photo is the vacant lot that will house used cars. Grace Animal Hospital in the Lodgeville Medical Building is the lot between Cava's new dealership and the recently acquired and paved lot that also has a new building on it.