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Fletcher Jones Holds No. 2 Rank Among U.S. Dealers

Fletcher Jones Motorcars in Newport Beach has held its title as the second largest auto dealer in the nation, according to Ward’s Auto list of the nation’s 500 largest dealers ranked by 2006 sales.

The Mercedes-Benz dealer, with $589 million in sales last year, was second only to Penske Automotive Group’s megadealership Longo Toyota of El Monte.

Longo, perennially the nation’s largest dealership, had revenue of $703 million last year, according to Ward’s, part of New York-based Penton Media Inc.

Longo’s lead over Fletcher was $114 million, less than the $132 million spread the prior year.

Fletcher’s revenue included $408 million in new auto sales and $90 million in used auto sales. Parts and service made up the rest.






Lula, Marion Halfacre: family’s Traditional Jewelers plans to “continue his legacy”

The dealership sold 641 more new autos and 62 fewer used autos in 2006 than in 2005. In all, Fletcher sold 6,568 new autos and 2,147 used ones in 2006.

Longo sold nearly four times as many new autos. It sold 25,207 new autos and 3,659 used ones.

Newport Lexus made its debut on the list at No. 361 with $87 million in sales, about six months worth of revenue for the dealership that opened last July.

It sold 1,665 new and 271 used autos. New sales revenue was $72 million, used was $9 million.

Two other Orange County dealers ranked in the top 20: No. 10 Mercedes dealer House of Imports in Buena Park, which moved up from No. 12, and No. 12 Crevier BMW of Santa Ana, which moved down from No. 9 in 2005.

AutoNation Inc.’s House of Imports had $285 million in total revenue, including $184 million in new autos and $55 million in used sales.

Crevier BMW had 2006 revenue of $269 million, including $192 million in new auto sales and $34 million in used sales.

Ward’s list omits a big OC dealership, Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel, which had $312 million in sales in 2006. Participation in Ward’s list is voluntary.

Had Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel been included, it would be No. 8, above Crevier and House of Imports.

Ward’s missed other biggies from the Business Journal’s yearly list of dealerships, including Irvine BMW with $261 million in 2006 revenue, Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim with $224 million and Shelly BMW of Buena Park at $148 million.

Others on the Business Journal’s list and not on Ward’s: Lexus of Mission Viejo at $150 million; Lexus of Westminster, $165 million; Connell Chevrolet in Costa Mesa, $106 million; Villa Ford in Orange, $104 million; Norm Reeves Honda Huntington Beach, $110 million; Hardin Honda of Anaheim, $104 million; and Allen Cadillac GMC in Laguna Niguel, $94 million.

All of those dealers would’ve made the 500 list. The lowest dealer revenue on Ward’s list was No. 500 Courtesy Chrysler Jeep of Casselberry, Fla., at $67 million.

Local dealers in the top 100 of Ward’s list: No. 31 Toyota of Orange with $220 million in 2006 sales; No. 74 Power Toyota Irvine, $171 million; and No. 62 Tustin Lexus, $182 million.

All of those dealers moved up the list in 2006. Nearly cracking the top 100 was luxury dealer Newport Auto Center, No. 112, with $150 million in sales.

In all, 12 local dealerships made Ward’s list, including several that were too small to qualify for the Business Journal’s list.


District, Market Place

The District, the new, 1 million-square-foot shopping center at the former Tustin Marine base, has opened a slew of stores and eateries: TJ Maxx/Home Goods, PetSmart, Costco and Chick-fil-A. Office Depot opens next month.

The District on Jamboree Road is set to rival The Market Place, which straddles Irvine and Tustin about three miles up the road.

Phoenix-based Vestar Development Co. and New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Kimco Realty Corp. are developing The District. The Irvine Company owns and manages The Market Place.

Both malls will sport some of the same stores, such as Target, PetSmart, Costco, TJ Maxx (The District has the larger TJ Maxx/Home Goods store) and Lowe’s Home Improvement, as well as bring competing big-box retailers to the area.

The District will have a Borders Books & Music. The Market Place has Barnes & Noble.

Shoppers will have a selection of movie theaters: the two Edwards complexes at The Market Place and an AMC at The District. The Market Place also is set to have a Strike Rock & Roll Bowling.


Jeweler Halfacre Dies

Newport Beach jeweler Marion Halfacre died at his Corona del Mar home on June 8 from a heart attack. Halfacre was president and owner, along with wife Lula, of Traditional Jewelers at Fashion Island. The 6,000-square-foot Traditional Jewelers has been at Fashion Island since 1991.

“Traditional Jewelers is committed to continue his legacy in honor of his memory and to fulfill his vision,” his family said.

Halfacre opened his first store in 1975 in Mississippi. Traditional Jewelers also has a salon store at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Halfacre was a big member of the community, recently named skipper and “Commodore of the Year” for the Commodores Club, a yacht club that sponsors Newport Beach’s annual boat parade.

He was on the board of governors for Chapman University and served on the University of California, Irvine’s athletic advisory council.


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