FALMOUTH, MA - In January 2010, seemingly without much public notice and information after the fact, Harbor Chevrolet at 171 Worcester Court cleared its lots, posted closed signs on the showroom windows, and locked the doors. According to GM and local sources, the long-time Upper Cape dealership is no longer in the dealer network. A redirect to GM from the dealership’s web address confirms the business closure. An affiliated enterprise, Seaside Auto Body was also closed along with the dealership.

Prior to the Harbor Chevrolet closing, Falmouth Ford on Dillingham Avenue was shuttered in 2007. This most recent closing, however, makes the nearby O’Hara Jeep Dodge Chrysler the only new car dealership still operating in Falmouth, MA.  

Few are more aware of this fact than Rich Duffy. He’s an ASE Certified Technician and founder-owner of Falmouth Motor Car, a growing business with state-of-the-art automotive service centers located in Falmouth and Cataumet, and a recently added modern quick oil change facility on Route 28 in West Yarmouth, MA.

“At the time I started in business in the early 1980′s, there were seven new automobile dealerships located in Falmouth. Today there’s just one remaining,” Mr. Duffy noted. “It all shows how much this industry has changed and will likely continue to change, especially for the consumer.” Going forward, Falmouth Motor Car’s mission is clear: make that change a reliable and high quality experience for local consumers who are now left with fewer comparable service and repair options.  

Harbor Chevrolet has deep roots in Falmouth and has served generations of loyal GM customers as either Clauson Chevrolet Oldsmobile and Tom Flurkey Chevrolet Oldsmobile GEO.

Originally occupying the premises under a lease, Flurkey eventually acquired the property under a foreclosure deed from Plymouth Savings Bank in 1994. A decade later, the current owners A&B Brown Real Estate LLC bought the property from the Flurkey’s and continued operating the GM dealership. The 2004 sale included the properties located at 171 Worcester Court (1.364 acre lot with a 10,440+/- SF dealership facility) and the adjacent property at 179 Worcester Court consisting of Seaside Auto Body (.586 acre lot with a 5,000+/- SF automotive facility). The recorded deed filed in June 2004 indicated a purchase price of $1,750,000 for both properties.

A recap of the seven dealerships operating Falmouth in the early 1980′s:

1. Falmouth Toyota- East Falmouth Hwy., near St Anthony’s Church. In the late 1980′s, Tom Murphy relocated Falmouth Toyota to a newly built facility on MacArthur Blvd. in Bourne. The former site was later redeveloped with a car wash.

2. Clauson Chevrolet Oldsmobile – Worcester Court; previously at 662 Main Street.

3. Falmouth Ford – dealership closed in 2007 and the property was sold in 2008. Click for related story.

4. VW/Mazda – currently O’Hara Jeep Dodge Chrysler at 50 Spring Bars Road.

5. Battles Buick- formerly on Depot St.;  the main Battles dealership was relocated to the former Bridge VW facility on MacArthur Blvd. in Bourne.

6. Falmouth Nissan - currently the Cape & Islands Tire store at 735 Teaticket Hwy., East Falmouth, MA

7. Falmouth Dodge – 662 Main Street; in about 2003 the site was redeveloped with a two story brick bank (currently Mutual Bank; previously Security Federal Savings Bank.)

The total consideration from the recorded deeds indicated a collective price of just under $17 million for the six purchased properties. Lorrie Hecker, Director of Communication – Marketing & Refining for Hess Corporation told CapeCodBusiness.com, “for competitive reasons” full financial terms of the transaction could not be disclosed.

The eleven sites, all of which include convenience stores, were quickly rebranded Hess. The company plans to hold grand openings in the spring to welcome customers and introduce the firm’s product line.

Hess is one of the leading independent gasoline-convenience retailers on the East Coast with 1,370 stations and convenience stores in 14 states including more than 100 sites in Massachusetts.

According to Hess company spokeswoman Lorrie Hecker, “The Hess team is excited about the opportunity to serve additional customers and expand our market presence on the Cape. Christy’s is one of the premier gasoline retailers on Cape Cod, and they share Hess’ commitment to providing customers with exceptional service and value. We see this as a strong fit with the Hess brand promise, and we are delighted to add these Christy’s sites to the Hess retail portfolio.”

All indications are that Christy’s Markets will continue to independently pursue gasoline-convenience stores projects intiated in 2008 which are located in Dennis and Chatham. 

Chatham Mobil at the rotary.

Falmouth Ford, Falmouth MA

FALMOUTH, MA – Nearly one year to the day after it closed for business, the former Lighthouse Ford property at 343 Dillingham Road in Falmouth changed hands. According to a deed filed on November 11, 2008 the sale price was $1,150,000. or approximately $114/SF of gross building area. The buyer was listed as 1 Lewiston Street LLC, 278 Scranton Avenue, Falmouth, MA. The main business located at this address is Falmouth Marine. Ford Motor Company was represented by CB Richard Ellis. The asking price was in the range of $1.6 Million.

Lighthouse Ford closed in November 2007 as part of a dealership consolidation program spearheaded by the Big Three automobile manufacturer. The dealership was operated as Falmouth Ford for many decades up until 2004 when it became Lighthouse Ford. The property conveyed to Lighthouse Ford Inc. in July 2004 for $1.5 Million.

The special purpose property consists of the 10,080 square foot automotive building on a level 1.73 acre site. The structure was erected in 1967 and was extensively remodeled about the time it became Lighthouse Ford.

Ford dealerships continue to be operating in Hyannis and Chatham as well as in Wareham and Plymouth.

The widely reported troubles in the automotive sector have resulted in the closing of many dealerships in the past year. Quite coincidentially is the recent closing of a Long Island, NY dealership similarly named Lighthouse Ford which also opened its doors in 2004. A message on the NY dealership’s website sums up the situation this way, “Unfortunately as a result of the ever changing market and the stark economic reality facing this country Lighthouse Ford has decided to close its doors on October 31st 2008.”