Used-car giant CarMax has purchased the old Saturn dealership in Federal Heights, solidifying the superstore company’s intent to enter the metro- area market.
The Richmond, Va.-based retailer — the largest in the U.S. — bought the 7.23-acre site at 2600 W. 104th Ave. for $6 million with no immediate plans to build a dealership. In 2008, CarMax bought a piece of property in Parker.
If all goes as planned, CarMax will demolish the existing Saturn store and start construction on a new dealership no earlier than 2013, CarMax spokeswoman Elia Imler said.
CarMax, which operates its only Colorado dealership in Colorado Springs, also has its eye on property in Littleton.
“Purchasing property does not guarantee that a store will be built,” Imler said. “It can take up to three years for approvals and construction before a store is ready to be open for business.”
If CarMax does turn local land into used-car sales lots, the company will operate on a “no-dicker” sticker-price model.
“We do that because when we first started CarMax, we surveyed customers to find out what people liked about buying cars,” Imler said. “What we got was what they didn’t like.”
Jeff Baca, dealer principal at Denver Suzuki next door to the proposed CarMax site in Federal Heights, said he welcomes the competition.
“I think it’s going to drive traffic,” Baca said. “They spend a lot of money on advertising, which brings out a lot of people looking for cars. Not everybody that walks into CarMax is going to buy from them, and my cars can be seen right from their lot.”
Metro Volunteers’ men.
Joe Blake, former chief executive of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and chancellor of Colorado State University, and Denver restaurateur Mark Berzins are this year’s winners of Metro Volunteers’ highest awards for volunteerism.
Blake and Berzins will be honored during Metro Volunteers’ Heart of Volunteerism Awards event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Denver Cable Center, 2000 Buchtel Blvd. Tickets: .
Blake will receive the lifetime- achievement award for his volunteer leadership and service throughout the metro area. Berzins, founder and co-owner of Little Pub Holdings and its 19 neighborhood bars and taverns, will receive the first community-impact award for his track record in volunteerism.
Megamansion sold.
Former Nuggets star Allen Iverson had to bring money to closing, but he sold his Cherry Hills home for $2.55 million on an asking price of $2.95 million.
Iverson, who bought the 6,848-square- foot, six-bedroom, nine-bathroom spread for $3.875 million in January 2008, had ceased making payments on the property in the Buell Mansion subdivision after the home went under contract. The buyer is a “local businessman with ties to Russia,” according to the buyer’s agent, Edie Marks.
All outstanding payments and taxes were paid at closing, Marks said.
EAVESDROPPING
A man watching the pot-smoking crowd light up at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday in Civic Center:
“It doesn’t look any different than a Widespread Panic concert.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis & Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
