Now it's definite: Anderson Chevrolet is closing Now it's definite: Anderson Chevrolet is closing (September 07, 2005)

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

It was a rough day for Menlo Park, and El Camino Real.

On August 31, the same day the city learned Kepler's bookstore may close forever, came the definitive word that the Anderson Chevrolet dealership at 300 El Camino Real would shut down.

"We're merging operations to other locations in the Bay Area," said Marc Cannon, vice president of corporate communications of the Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation, which owns Anderson Chevrolet and 277 other dealerships nationwide. According to Mr. Cannon, the site had about 50 employees.

For weeks, there have been rumors that Anderson might close, particularly after it vacated its truck lot across the street.

It's the second loss of an auto dealership in Menlo Park in four months. In April, the Cadillac Buick Pontiac GMC dealer at 1300 El Camino Real closed its doors.

Only two dealerships remain in Menlo Park: University Ford at 350 El Camio Real and Stanford Lincoln Mercury at 444 El Camino Real.

In addition to the economic impact and loss of jobs, the auto dealers have been among the leading sources of sales tax revenue for the city.

There will be opportunities for some former Anderson employees at other Bay Area dealerships, said Mr. Cannon.

David Johnson, the city's business development manager, was disappointed not only in the closure, but also with how the dealership's last weeks played out.

"I like to regularly speak to the people at Anderson Chevrolet," said Mr. Johnson. "But cars suddenly disappeared from the lot. It would have been courteous and professional to give us a heads up. It's fitting to let people and your city officials know what's going on."
Auto mall

"The dealerships on El Camino feed off each other," said Mr. Johnson. "With fewer dealerships there are fewer advertising dollars bringing people into the area."

There are plans to attract auto dealers back to Menlo Park through a proposed auto mall off Marsh Road near U.S. 101.

"We're moving at an accelerated pace on the alternative sites," said Mr. Johnson. "This closure can't make [the proposed auto mall] any more urgent."
El Camino's future

The city is looking at ways to bring new business to the many vacant sites on El Camino, but decisions need to be made carefully, said Mayor Mickie Winkler.

"We have some really good visions of what El Camino should look like," Mayor Winkler said. "We'd like to see more information on the types of businesses that would be interested in the area, so as we go into the design phase, we have a good vision of reality."

AutoNation is still undecided what to do with the empty Anderson site, said Mr. Cannon.

The land is owned by Stanford University, but Bill Phillips, managing director of real estate for the Stanford Management Co., said he had not heard from AutoNation as of September 1.

"I'd like to talk to AutoNation, but I don't expect to hear from them," he said. According to Mr. Phillips, there are seven years left on the site's lease.

Both Mayor Winkler and Mr. Johnson mentioned the possibility of expanding the Stanford Park Hotel onto the Anderson Chevrolet site. Mr. Phillips said there is support for the plan.

"A portion of [the Anderson site] could be utilized to add on to the Stanford Park Hotel," he said. "Community sentiment seems to support that there is more meeting space needed at the hotel."

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