The Hertrich family of dealerships has opened a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram store in Elkton.
The Cecil Whig reported that the dealership is located on a tract near Tractor Supply Co. off U.S. Route 40 on the east side of Elkton. The store has been open for some time, but formally announced its opening last week.
The site had been under development for some time, with the Town of Elkton approving a zoning change for the tract. The location had earlier been approved by Chrysler.
Hertrich, based in Milford, is the largest auto retail and service group on the Eastern Shore, with a dozen dealerships, including a location in the northern New Jersey in Monmouth County.
The company is ranked among the 100 largest automotive dealerships in the nation. It was founded in 1964 when Frederick W. Hertrich II established Hertrich Pontiac-Buick in Seaford.
Hertrich operates large Acura and Hyundai dealerships across the line on DuPont Highway in New Castle. County. The dealership will mark a return to Elkton for a revived Chrysler, which has seen a major turnaround under majority owner Fiat.
The Advantage dealership in Elkton went out of business before Chrysler’s troubles led to the closing of its Newark assembly plant in late 2008 and a federal bailout. The closest Chrysler dealerships are in New Castle and Newark.
The Ford side of Advantage was purchased by Cecil County’s Ramsey dealership with plans calling for a new Ford dealership to replace the current location, also on Route 40 and on the east side of Elkton.
Work is under way on a new Ford site, which was at the location of the old Advantage dealerships. The current site, on the other side of Route 40, is up for sale.
The Chrysler dealership, which according to the Whig will employ about 50, is also good news for the Cecil County economy,. The county has been affected by its proximity to sales-tax-free Delaware and high bridge tolls on the Susquehanna River bridges.
