Middletown location will offer Jeep brand and expanded service
WARREN — After four decades at their Child Street location, family-owned Bristol County Dodge will move to Middletown in April.
“It was a very difficult decision for us to make,” said owner Kevin Clare.
”My grandfather moved our company here to Warren from Bristol in the late 1960s. It was not a decision we took lightly.”
But it was an offer they couldn’t not refuse. Chrysler spared BCD when they were closing dealerships last year in an effort to get back in the black. The trade-off comes now, as the company’s new focus is regional dealerships offering all of their product lines as opposed to small, neighborhood dealerships scattered throughout the state. The new dealerships are called “Genesis” dealerships. Mr. Clare’s new Middletown location will be called Clare Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Newport. A Ford dealership for 40 years, the new, larger location will allow Mr. Clare to offer more products, better customer amenities and expanded hours and service. He’s hoping these improvements will make up for the distance and help him keep his Bristol, Warren and Barrington customers.
“That’s our biggest concern. We just want them to know that we’ll still be there for them. In Chrysler’s new plan we need to have Jeep. In order to get that we needed to relocate and service our entire market,” he said.
“We just want all of our BCD customers to know how important they are. I will do whatever it takes to keep them happy and keep servicing their vehicles. Come on down and check out the new facility.”
The new facility – located at 310 West Main Road - will not only retain all of Mr. Clare’s current employees, but he will be hiring as well. In the meantime, Mr. Clare is trying to figure out what to do with the old facility at 68 Child St. He owns the property, but said he has not decided if he will lease or sell it now that’s he’s moving.
“We’ve been here for a long time. We’re very comfortable here in Warren. We hope to keep our customers. We pride ourselves on service,” Mr. Clare said.
“Nothing’s going to change.”
BCD was an ICON in Warren for years, knowing your grandfather I cant believe your moving to middletown
I wish BCD the best of luck and will follow them anywhere! Can't wait to see the new dealership!
I went there once shopping for a car. The saleman stunk of cigarette smoke and I was unimpressed with the car. If not for their trucks Dodge would in the grave with Plymouth.
Who cares, let them go. They have been screwing people for a long time. Me being one of them. It has given me great pleasure to tell people my story and encourage them NOT to look at a car from that dealership. People in Middletown, beware......Scumbags posing as car salesman....
Can't wait to watch them fail! what part of this make sense we just watched Newport Auto Center go down the drains and you want to move here now. BCD screwed me one to many times I will drive the extra miles to go to Bald Hill Dodge where they have perfect service!
I think all you people with bad things to say are just bitter because the situation you found yourself in was not as ideal as you had planned. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about BCD, and Kevin especially. He has always taken care of everything I needed done, accomidated me based on my work schedule, never made me wait long, and was a complete gentleman! I wish nothing but the best for Kevin and his group, and I hope he reads this. I know myself, and my parents will follow BCD anywhere they go. I am not just another person in line waiting for an oil change, I am their customer. They know me, my car, and they know what they are doing! Good luck, you have always taken care of me and my family and for that we are forever grateful. You will be seeing me soon, my next oil change. Even if I have to drive from Warren to Middletown.
