GARDEN GROVE : Auto Mall May Gain 5th Dealer

The city’s auto mall may gain a fifth dealership if Nicholas Chevrolet reaches an agreement with the city on a vacant site there.

“We forwarded what we believe is the final agreement,” said Matt Fertal, director of community development for the city. “The business points we believe are complete, but there may be some legal points they want modified.”

The site under negotiation is on Trask Avenue at the corner of Brookhurst Street and includes about four city-owned acres that now contain a vacant Exxon station and a dozen homes that the city owns and rents.

Joe Volterel, owner and general manager of Nicholas Chevrolet, said a number of issues still must be resolved before the dealership decides whether to buy the land and move.

“There’s environmental questions; Exxon is cleaning up the property,” Volterel said.

“We have agreed in principle on the price of the land. But at this point, there is nothing in writing that is signed and executed.”

Fertal said the auto mall offers better freeway access and visibility and would allow the dealership to expand to as much as twice its current size.

Volterel said, however, that “it’s still in the negotiating stages and it’s way too soon to even talk about a relocation.”