Parker Toyota reconsiders expansion

Journal of Business, Jun 12, 2008 by Gustafson, Jeanne

Parker Toyota, which had been considering a major expansion at its dealership near U.S. 95 and Kathleen Avenue, in Coeur d'Alene, says those plans now are on hold.

The dealership was looking at constructing a 70,000-square-foot building, with 40 service stalls, on the 8.5-acre parcel it occupies there, says Chris Leonard, general sales manager. He says its current building has 30,000 square feet of space and 18 service stalls.

Those plans, however, now are "on terminal hold" due to the uncertainty of the economy, says company President Jim Parker. "I would say we've become a little hesitant," Parker says.

While sales are growing at the dealership, the company might decide to drop the project or remodel its current building instead, Parker says. The dealership's architect, Miller Stauffer Architects PA, of Coeur d'Alene, recently met with Coeur d'Alene city officials and has filed preliminary site plans for the potential project.

Leonard says the dealership has outgrown its current facility. "We need to build a bigger facility to better serve our customers. We've outgrown our customer parking, our service lounge - we've outgrown our building," he says.

Parker says, "We've been in here for 15 years, so its a little tight, but it's a pretty uncertain economic time."

Leonard says the dealership currently employs 130 people, and likely would hire additional workers in its service department if the expansion were to go ahead.

Doug Parker acquired Coeur d'Alene Toyota in 1983, initially going into business with his friend, Wayne Knudtsen. About the time Parker bought out Knudtsen in 1988, his son, Jim, joined the business. In 1991, the business moved from its original location on Government Way to its current location.