Hoffman Auto Group has purchased the neighboring Lincoln franchise on East Hartford’s “new car row” and is expanding its Ford showroom to accommodate the brand, authorities say.
Hoffman Auto paid an undisclosed sum to Gengras Motor Cars for the franchise, officials said Tuesday.
Hoffman Lincoln will share showroom quarters with Hoffman Ford at 600 Connecticut Blvd., said Jeffrey S. Hoffman and I. Bradley Hoffman, co-chairmen for the family-run auto dealer.
Lincoln is Ford Motor Co.’s luxury brand.
Work is underway to enlarge the Ford-Lincoln showroom to include a climate controlled drive-thru, shuttle and loaner services, free Wi-Fi and computer workstations, and a children’s playroom, Hoffman Auto Marketing Director Christan Miller said.
Hoffman Auto is comprised of nine new-car showrooms, including Lexus, Porsche and Audi, and the H Lot Live used-car dealership, all in East Hartford. Its Connecticut dealerships also include Toyota of Avon and Hoffman Honda, both based in Hoffman’s Avon Auto Park on Route 44.
Hoffman Auto’s previous new-car expansion occurred in 2007, with the purchase of former Wagner Nissan, also housed in Avon Auto Park, Miller said.
Last fall, the parent launched its H Lot Live used-car dealership on Connecticut Boulevard.
Gengras’ Lincoln franchise had been housed at its sales complex down the street from Hoffman’s autoplex, at 300 Connecticut Blvd. Gengras still operates Volvo and Chrysler-Dodge-Fiat-Jeep showrooms at that location, as well as a Chevrolet dealership next door at 585 Connecticut Blvd.
