Crain to build new dealership in Fort Smith

Crain Investments is making a sizable investment in Fort Smith with a new dealership for Crain Hyundai to be built near Interstate 540 and U.S. Highway 71 South near other major car dealerships in that area.

A $10 million building permit was issued by the City of Fort Smith on Jan. 22 to Petree Construction of Fort Smith, who is listed as the contractor for the project. The permit covers construction only and does not include furniture, fixtures, and equipment Crain will add to the building.

Shawn Cotie, general manager of Crain Hyundai in Fort Smith, did not respond to repeated requests for more information about the new dealership.

Brian Trumbly, project manager with Petree, said the new construction project just started. The new 36,000-square-foot car dealership for Crain Hyundai of Fort Smith is expected to be complete at the end of January 2026 at 3300 River Valley Drive.

According to plans submitted to the Fort Smith Planning and Zoning Department, the new dealership will have a 4,422-square-foot showroom display area with space for six vehicles on display. There will be a 1,426-square-foot customer lounge, a 5,250-square-foot service area, and a parts storage area.

The finished dealership will have parking spaces for 137 new vehicles and 47 used vehicles. The new dealership will be beside the 25,000-square-foot Crain Kia that was built on 6 acres at 6700 Autopark Drive in Fort Smith. That $4.4 million new facility began construction in 2020 and was completed in 2021.

The existing Crain Hyundai lot, located at 3600 S. Zero St., will close when the new one is completed, Trumbly said.

The Crain Companies began as “Paul Crain Wholesale” in Searcy in the early 1950s. Crain Hyundai of Fort Smith opened in 2010.