Crevier BMW in Santa Ana sold the most Mini Coopers in the nation for 2007.
The dealership sold 833 of the cars last year. Crevier has its own 52,000-square-foot Mini showroom alongside its mainstay BMW lot in Santa Ana.
Germany’s BMW AG makes the Mini Cooper, based on the British car popular in the 1960s.
Crevier also kept its standing as the No. 1 BMW dealer in the Western U.S. and as the nation’s No. 2, after South Florida’s Vista BMW.
“We’ve been very lucky in the luxury segment,” owner Donnie Crevier said.
For 2007, Crevier sold 5,653 new and used BMWs and Minis, up 2.6% from a year earlier.
Crevier is expecting a better year this year, despite dismal economic news. Concern about gas prices and the environment is helping Mini sales, Crevier said. Minis get about 35 miles to the gallon, he said.
Several BMW models hit the showroom this year, which could help spur sales, according to Crevier.
BMW’s Clubman, a Mini wagon, is due out this year. It’s set to sell for about $3,000 more than the Mini.
The Clubman offers the Mini look in a slightly bigger car. The I Series is due in February, a diesel BMW in the fall, an M3 in the spring along with a new X6, a large sport utility vehicle.
Crevier also expects to sell more used autos this year. Those looking to buy this year might put off buying a new car, he said.
Huntington Toyota
After two years in the making, Toyota of Huntington Beach, a $20 million investment, is open.
The opening took longer than usual to meet city guidelines, said Bob Miller, co-owner with David Wilson of Orange-based Wilson Automotive Group, which runs Toyota of Orange and other dealerships.
The Huntington Beach dealership had to convince Toyota Motor Corp. that its design for a dealership in Ohio might not work for the beach. Originally, Toyota gave Miller and Wilson two design options.
So Miller had his designer present their idea to Toyota. The automaker went for it. Toyota representatives have been in to visit and they like it, he said.
The new dealership is on 2.5 acres. The showroom is 287,000 square feet and five-stories high, which gives it a bigger feel than its 2.5 acres. It has 40 service bays.
There’s a VIP waiting room for longtime customers, a coffee bar and big screen TVs.
NAMM Time
Music retailers and music makers converged on Anaheim Thursday through Sunday for the annual NAMM trade show at the convention center.
The show, one of the biggest at the convention center, allowed music store executives to get a glimpse at everything from the latest accordion to the newest DJ gear. Yamaha Corporation of America in Buena Park, one of the largest musical instrument makers, was on hand along with others from Orange County.
Guitar maker Rickenbacker International Corp. in Santa Ana and Fullertons’ G & L; Guitars, part of Huntington Beach-based BBE Sound Inc., showed their wares.
Hordes of musicians performed, including Carlos Santana, Sheila E., Stevie Wonder, Dweezil Zappa and Korn.
See page 14 for my annual NAMM photo essay.
Game Shack
Howie’s Game Shack LLC opened its latest video game store at Westminster Mall last month. Customers can play games such as “Halo 3” and “Call of Duty 4” in a theater-like setting.
The Mission Viejo-based company is in the midst of an expansion. The game company is not alone. Game stores, which sell games and organize tournaments, are among the fastest-growing retailers. Rivals include Play N Trade Franchise Inc., based in Newport Beach, and GameStop Corp., based in Grapevine, Texas.
Conroy’s Nod
Conroy’s Flowers at Westpark Plaza in Irvine was named franchisee of the year by Christopher McCann, president of 1-800-Flowers.com Inc., Conroy’s parent.
Mort Nistanaki, owner of the Westpark Conroy’s, was honored at the company’s national franchise conference held in Las Vegas. 1-800-Flowers, based in Carle Place, N.Y., has about 105 stores and $900 million in yearly sales.
Tutoring Franchise
The Tutoring Center has opened at the Woodbury Town Center in Irvine. The business, a fast-growing franchise, is owned by Sadhna and Ravi Mathur of Irvine.
Laguna Hills Rack
This fall, Laguna Hills Mall is getting a 35,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack, Nordstrom’s discount store.
It will be the retailer’s third Rack store in OC. Others are at Metro Pointe in Costa Mesa and Union Plaza in Brea.
