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Noble All American is building a new facility for its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep franchise in a south lot adjacent to the current buildings at 2020 W. 20th St. S.
Work began on the project a couple weeks ago, starting with moving dirt and building a retaining wall to the east.
“We have the franchise now but we don’t have a facility to house it,” Greg Williams, general manager said. Williams is looking for the building to be complete in early spring, weather pending.
“If they can get it roofed and sided in they can do a lot of finish work this winter,” Williams said. Point Builders, based in eastern Iowa, is the general contractor on the job with Van Maanen Electrical of Newton and Dickerson Mechanical of Colfax handling the electrical, mechanical, air conditioning and plumbing needs.
“We try to get as many local people as we can,” Williams said. The new building will take on the detailing department, leaving more space for service department in its current location.
“Doing that will allow us to open up more room in the service department because right now the detail is in the back,” Williams said. Along with the new building, an automatic car wash will be attached for the service department to use, a feature not currently on the property.
Williams said that additional sales staff will be hired to help man the new facility.
Noble opened in Newton in 2003 on the east side of town on First Avenue. Work began on its current location in 2005 and was completed in August 2006. Noble All American is the second Noble location, with the original in Indianola.
Williams said that business has been good in Newton.
“It’s a nice community. A good location, right on the interstate and Highway 14, a lot of traffic,” Williams said.
Additional future plans have already started. Using the dirt from current construction, a new road was built to a future lot that has a closer view of the interstate.
Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.