Crain Hyundai to Move Dealership From Springdale to Fayetteville

Owners of a Hyundai dealership on Highway 71 Business in Springdale are planning to relocate the business to Fayetteville.

Chris Byrd, the chief financial officer of Crain Automotive Holdings of Sherwood, said Crain Hyundai of Springdale will move from its location on the corner of Don Tyson Parkway into a new 28,000-SF facility by December next year.

The proposed site is just west of Interstate 540, south of the Garland Road exit.

CAH recently bought the land, about 12 acres, for $2.3 million. Gerald Johnston was the previous owner.

Byrd said the dealership’s footprint will only be about 6.5 acres. There are no development plans set for the remaining acreage.

Byrd said the site’s high visibility from the interstate made it a desirable location, as well as its proximity to similar businesses, referencing the Fayetteville Autopark, Williams Tractor Inc. and Adventure Subaru.

The new dealership will have room for an inventory of about 500 vehicles, Byrd said.

CAH, which operates seven franchised dealerships in central Arkansas, with franchises ranging from Buick, GMC, Hyundai, Ford, Chevrolet, Kia and Mazda, first entered the Northwest Arkansas market in January with the purchase of the Springdale dealership — previously owned by Kent Dobbs — and Hyundai of Bentonville.

Byrd said CAH has been leasing the 16,300-SF Springdale facility from Dobbs. The company owns Crain Hyundai of Bentonville, an 18,670-SF building.

In July, longtime Springdale car dealer Steve Smith reached an agreement to sell his Buick and GMC dealership at 6372 W. Sunset Ave. to CAH.

The dealership began operating as Crain Buick GMC of Springdale on October 1.