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Posted on Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.

Ann Arbor MINI dealership aiming for late summer opening

By Lizzy Alfs

mini_dealership_sarah_woolson.jpg

MINI dealership general manager Sarah Woolson outisde the under-construction dealership on Jackson Road in Scio Township.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Construction at the MINI dealership on Jackson Road in Scio Township is progressing despite several delays.

The dealership, located at the site of the former Jim Bradley Pontiac dealership just west of Ann Arbor at 3500 Jackson Road, is aiming for a late summer opening.

The former Jim Bradley dealership was demolished in September 2011, and a new 12,802-square-foot building has since replaced it on the 7.7-acre property. Owner Mack Johnson said the roof, electrical and drywall will be installed in the coming weeks.

Plans include 63 parking spaces for customers and staff and 168 for storage and display. There is an existing 5,390-square-foot building at the rear of the property that will be used for storage, Johnson said. The architect for the project is Scott Bowers of Bowers + Rein of Ann Arbor. Steve Brouwer of Dexter-based A.R. Brouwer Co. is doing contracting work.

“We’re probably about 65 to 70 percent (of the way done),” Johnson said. “We’re thinking that somewhere in late summer is when we’ll probably open if everything comes together.”

Johnson — who started his automotive career as a parts driver for Jim Bradley in the mid-1980s — bought the Jim Bradley dealership in 2010. He moved the dealership’s remaining GM brands, Buick and GMC, to his former building at 500 Auto Mall Drive, where he’d operated a Saturn dealership until GM discontinued that brand during the auto crisis.

That building housed the renamed Mack Buick-GMC franchise until the LaFontaine Automotive Group purchased the dealership earlier this year.

Sarah Woolson, the MINI dealership’s general manager, said they encountered “unforeseeable” delays when constructing the MINI dealership, which they originally hoped to open in February 2011.

“I just think we were a little overzealous in setting some of our deadlines initially,” she said. “It wasn’t necessarily one thing (that slowed construction), but I think we were so excited about giving the franchise. Now, we want to slow it down and get it done.”

Johnson said they plan to have about 20 people employed at the dealership, along with Woolson and Greg Bryant, the fixed operations manager. They are accepting applications via email.

Johnson declined to disclose the cost of the project, but said: “It’s a big investment. It’s a big commitment from myself and Vanessa Bradley (Jim Bradley’s daughter). We’ve committed because we want to bring this to Ann Arbor and make sure people know we’re investing back in our town.”

Johnson said he has a partnership with the Bradley family and is leasing the property from them. He said Jim Bradley, who died in 2003, was one of his biggest mentors.

And as a long time Ann Arbor resident — Johnson grew up in the area and went to Pioneer High School — he said it’s a “dream come true” to open the MINI dealership in his hometown.

“I feel like I’ve accomplished something by being a person that grew up here and now investing here,” he said. “I know what Ann Arbor is all about. We’re committed to our community and we will never turn our back on them.”

The MINI dealership will be the third in Michigan; other outlets are in Macomb County’s Shelby Township and Grand Rapids. Since the brand — part of the BMW family — launched U.S. sales in 2002, it has been expanding its dealer network. There are currently more than 100 U.S. MINI dealers, according to the MINI website.

The BMW Group calls MINI “the world’s first premium small car.”

MINI dealerships typically are located near BMW dealers, industry experts said. BMW of Ann Arbor, on Auto Mall Drive, is located about a half-mile west of the MINI dealership site.

According to MINI, the brand sold 27,527 units worldwide in May 2012, up 5.5 percent over May 2011. In the U.S., which the group says is its largest market, it sold 6,153 units in May.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

Lou Perry

Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.

The total acreage looks very large for selling big or small vehicles. There is enough room for another dealership facing Jackson Rd.

PMJ

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.

Sure hope this dealership doesnt get run into the ground like the "Mack Bucik GMC" dealership did.

PMJ

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.

Sorry, Buick...

HeimerBoodle

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:51 p.m.

I'll be thrilled when they finally open, I don't want to give up hope. Since this was announced last year, I've tried emailing them several times and have never received a response even when I basically said "I'll buy a car from you as soon as you open, all I want to know is when". Let's hope when they finally do, they have the staff to handle inquiries from people who really want to give them money.

15crown00

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.

hope they do well

15crown00

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.

slick Jims dealership bit the dust huh?Imagine that!!!!!

Carole

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.

This is great and wishing the owners the best. The corner will once again be filled with a business.

DBH

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.

They may be located near a BMW dealership (about 1/2 mile west on Jackson), but the owners are separate entities. I think, given a chance, the BMW dealership down the street would have wanted the MINI dealership. And, once again, a township business is labeled an "Ann Arbor" business in the headline, though its actual location in Scio Township is accurately detailed in the story. I don't have a major problem with this, but AnnArbor.com should be consistent in how they headline stories. The practice seems to be that a negative story in a township appears to be headlined as occurring in the township, whereas a positive story in a township is headlined either as "Ann Arbor" or "Ann Arbor-area."

julieswhimsies

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.

Welcome to Ann Arbor!

help_is_on_the_way

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.

It's certainly taking shape ya bunch of naysayers. I'm personally looking forward to not having to take my Mini to Shelby Township anymore. This is good news!

SMC

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.

Yes, with a Ford, you'll be getting towed there instead.

jcj

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.

Buy a Ford and you won't be running to the dealership so often!

Cheri

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:26 p.m.

After issues taking mine to Motor City MINI, I've been driving to MINI of Grand Rapids for service. They've been awesome.

Cheri

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.

The MINI USA website originally listed this dealership as opening "Fall 2010", so I'll believe it when I see it.

CPLtownie

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 3:32 a.m.

There hasn't been anyone working there for weeks and all the machinery has been pulled off site - I drive by there several times a week. It's half built and I suspect it will remain as such. Sad. Another carcass of a building.

jcj

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.

When were you by there last? It is taking shape. It looks like they have the frames in for the windows.

ranger007

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.

I see people working a few days a month over there...ill believe this when I see it.

LatersBaby

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.

Guess what is on the other side of this? Good ole' Camp Take Notice! Good Luck keeping your grounds professional with them on the other side of the fence.

PMJ

Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.

On another note, love your username, haha!

jcj

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.

Yea Camp Take Notice sure ruined Varsity Ford right? WRONG! Try to keep it real .

G-Man

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.

Is the car anything like a Mini Cooper?

Ariel

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

I think they're all different models of the MINI Cooper.

eone

Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 6:46 p.m.

if that's the case they might better add some horsepower to the contractors