Hendrick Keeps Moving

Massive amounts of work continue at the former K-mart on Savannah Highway, as Hendrick Automotive Group (HAG) converts the massive facility into a series of car dealerships.
Charlotte-headquartered HAG purchased the land last year, which included the discount store, as well as a Sears’s appliance store, a restaurant, and a gas station.
Currently, the inside of a new building is being roughed in, destined to become a Hyundai dealership that the auto giant purchased last year.
Hendrick owns 95 dealerships in 13 states, with 133 franchises. In Charleston, the auto group currently operates 14 locations in Charleston and sells 19 manufacturer nameplates, according to its spokesman, David Harris.
Harris said the conversion project represents at least a $35 million investment. The main building in the back, which used to house the two national stores, will be converted into a 23,000-square foot collision and auto repair center, replacing the one currently located at the Chevrolet dealership across the street.
Harris said the Hyundai and collision center would likely be operational in late summer or early spring.
The parking lot areas will bed home to at least 650 vehicles, according to Harris, who added that a second dealership could be built on the lot by the end of the of the year.
The auto group is doing work on relocating its Honda dealership, which houses its used car center in a historic structure across Savannah Highway, to the new site.