Chevrolet to move dealership to allow development

[cityboi]

Bill Black to buy North State Chevrolet in downtown Greensboro

Paul Davis

The Business Journal

Bill Black Cadillac Oldsmobile in Greensboro has agreed to buy North State Chevrolet in a move that frees up a key piece of real estate near the baseball stadium under construction in downtown Greensboro.

Bill Black, president of the company that bears his name, said he has an agreement to by North State from owners Steve and Jim Jones.

Black will not buy the land that houses North State. Rather, he will move North State's inventory and most of its employees to the Bill Black Cadillac Oldsmobile lot on Wendover Avenue.

Black said the deal still needs approval from General Motors, which he said could happen in the next 30 days.

Black said he hopes the purchase will add 1,000 Chevrolet sales to his annual volume, a move that will help the dealership rebound from the phase-out of the Oldsmobile brand. Last year, Black estimated that he sold 400 Cadillacs, 500 Volkswagens and 1,000 used cars at his dealership.

Black said the retooled franchise likely will be renamed Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac.

Jim Jones said he and his brother have no specific plans for the 6-acre North State site, though they have spoken with Downtown Greensboro Inc. and Action Greensboro representatives about possible ideas. He said it is likely that the site will consist of retail and residential development.

"We most likely we will be partnering with someone who has a lot more experience in developing than we do," Jones said. "We'll be exploring that over the next few months."