Tuesday was ribbon-cutting day for Kia of White Plains, a 10,000-square-foot dealership at 468 Tarrytown Rd. acquired by Tarrytown Honda owner Dwight Dachnowicz.
Officially open since last November, the property has an indoor service reception, four service bays, sales and a parts department in one location, the first of its kind for a Kia dealership, said Jack Ryan, vice president of operations at Tarrytown Honda Auto Group.
Dachnowicz”™s proven track record at Tarrytown Honda got Kia Motors”™ attention. The South Korean auto manufacturer approached him about opening a new dealership. The Tarrytown dealer was selected from three candidates, according to Ryan.
With 18 employees at the Kia dealership and 67 employees at Tarrytown Honda, “Handling paperwork and Internet leads for both dealerships at the Tarrytown location helps streamline operations,” said Ryan.
Dachnowicz in 2006 acquired the former Rushneck Honda/Pontiac/Subaru dealership at 480 S. Broadway in Tarrytown. This month he submitted plans to the village to expand his dealership at the corner of South Broadway and Route 119 to an adjacent lot at 460 S. Broadway, which the El Dorado Diner leases from New York City-based Friedland Properties. Dachnowicz has proposed  to demolish the diner and build a 24,500-square-foot automotive sales and service building on the site.
Friedland Director of Leasing Sylvie Shames declined to comment on the future of the diner property  and referred calls to company principal William Friedland. Friedland did not return a call for comment.
Dachnowicz five years ago submitted plans to the village for an expansion project at his existing South Broadway dealership that were approved by the village’s planning, zoning and architectural review boards. Neighbors of the dealership opposed to the expansion challenged village officials’ decision in state Supreme Court, stalling the expansion. A court ruling in favor of the petitioners later was overturned on appeal in the dealer’s favor.
Tarrytown Village Administrator Michael Blau said the village’s approval for the delayed work at 480 S. Broadway expires in July, and Dachnowicz would have to reapply if work does not begin before that expiration date. AÂ public hearing on the dealer’s proposal for the diner site will be on March 28.
