Car czar “Dealin’ ” Doug Moreland has opened Colorado’s first Fiat dealership, but the building is temporary and he’s yet to receive any inventory.
The temporary building on Havana Street just south of Alameda Avenue will serve as Fiat quarters until the permanent dealership at 9701 E. Arapahoe Road is built in the next six months.
“There are 102 Fiats at the rail yard in Brighton waiting to ship to us,” Moreland said. “I’m not legally a dealer yet, so I can’t take them.”
Moreland is the first of two Fiat dealers that will open in Colorado. AutoNation will open the second Fiat store on Federal Boulevard in Westminster. Fiat is building six temporary dealerships throughout the U.S., with two going to Moreland in Aurora and in Arizona.
The dealerships will sell the Fiat 500, a cute Italian two-door with a convertible-roof option.
The permanent Fiat structure on Arapahoe Road and Dayton Street in Centennial formerly housed Burt Lincoln Mercury and then Kuni Lexus while Kuni remodeled its dealership.
“Fiat wanted to get a sales location open as soon as possible,” Moreland said about the temporary facility. “We have a lot of people interested in Fiat.”
Moreland has joined other auto dealers and businesses on Havana Street at the Denver-Aurora border to form the Havana Motor Mile, a branding effort spearheaded by the Havana Business Improvement District.
The branding effort will be supported by TV commercials and signage paid for with the property tax money that the 30 dealerships and 100 automotive services pay into the Havana Business Improvement District.
The fourth annual Cruzin’ Havana Car Show & Poker Run will feature 5,000 classic cars at the free event from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday on Havana from Alameda to Parker Road.
Puppy love.
There’s a new leader of the pack at The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch.
Bachelor, a St. Bernard puppy, has taken up residence in the lobby of the luxury hotel to lead a new Bachelor’s Pack dog-friendly program for guests.
Bachelor has been joined in his puppy posse by Miner, an English Cream Golden Retriever, who, along with Bachelor, will make appearances during Bachelor Parties this month.
Every four-legged visitor at The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch will be given a swag bag of premium pet supplies for use during the stay, and a host of services and amenities, including organic dog food and treats, spa and fitness services, doggie daybreak and twilight guided hikes, and more canine-friendly retail items for sale in the resort’s gift shop.
In honor of Bachelor’s debut, the hotel will donate every $125 dog fee this month to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Bachelor and Miner will play hosts during Fido Fridays, from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, and Bachelor Brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays throughout the summer.
Radio Rick.
Rick Crandall, host of The Breakfast Club With Rick Crandall, celebrates 20 years on radio station KEZW-1430 AM from 6 to 11 a.m. Friday at The Wellshire Inn. “He has been instrumental in keeping the music alive from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s as well as (being) the man behind the idea of building The Colorado Freedom Memorial, which will honor all Colorado vets,” said KEZW producer Nancy Martin.
EAVESDROPPING
A woman talking about Amato’s Ale House:
“I hear it’s such a meat market that people are calling it the ‘Tail House’ instead of the Ale House.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Hear 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.
