AMSTERDAM — Lusso Motors, an independent used car dealership and automotive service center, will bring a “luxury” experience to Amsterdam when it opens in the coming weeks.
Hassan Memon and his brother, Hunain, will co-own the business coming to the former Knapik’s Marine building at 197-199 Forest Ave. They bought the property for $200,000 in February, according to Montgomery County property records.
“It’s going to be a clean, modern dealership,” Memon said. “Something the city doesn’t have currently.”
The longtime motor and boat maintenance store and service facility closed each winter, but Knapik’s permanently shut down operations in Amsterdam this past season as it moves through the process of relocating to 1886 Duanesburg Road in Princetown.
Recognizing the site’s potential, Memon hopes to preserve the legacy of the well-known business while modernizing the facility to sell and service cars instead of boats.
“It’s perfect to be transformed into an automotive thriving business because it was a really thriving boat business,” Memon said. “We would like to bring that back to the neighborhood.”
A use variance was previously granted allowing the former boat sales and service center to instead be used for cars. The site plan was approved this week by the Planning Commission.
Lusso Motors will carry a range of vehicles priced as low as $8,000 and up to around $35,000. Cars will primarily be acquired through auctions by Manheim and ACV initially.
“We’re going to have everything for pretty much everybody,” Memon said.
The business will focus on offering quality cars with reasonable mileage from 2014 and up. On-site service will be available to customers within around a month of opening.
Although it will be their first dealership, Memon said his brother has extensive experience with other area dealers. Memon owns nearly 40 residential units locally. They both live in Amsterdam.
“We wanted to bring a new experience, a luxury touch to the Amsterdam city bringing better inventory,” Memon said. “We’re really lacking a quality car dealership in the area that provides decent service. A lot of the local dealerships are ‘buy here, pay here’ with over mileage cars that are old.”
A significant investment into building renovations will refresh the space inside and out. Memon roughly estimated over $150,000 will be spent on the “facelift.”
The interior will feature a showroom with space to display cars and a customer lounge, as well as finance and business offices. The existing service garage features two bays with a waiting lounge.
The building exterior will be repainted with new lighting and a backlit sign to be installed. The grounds will also be spruced up and maintained to enhance the appearance of the property and combat blight.
“It’s going to be all dressed up,” Memon said. “Within a couple months, you’re going to see a big change.”
At least 10 cars are expected to be acquired to launch the dealership, but the 2.5-acre property has the capacity for at least 50 cars. Lot space will be added over time with grass to initially be replaced by stone or gravel.
As the business grows, Memon said the goal would be to eventually pave the lot, which he estimated would cost over $60,000.
“We’re starting small, it’s a huge property to cover,” Memon said.
The brothers also have a separate storage building across the street under contract to buy from Knapik’s, but an issue with the property boundaries must be resolved.
Grant Egelston, housing inspector for Amsterdam, said the lot line runs through the building, splitting ownership of the parcel between Knapik’s and the city.
“We’re trying to resolve it,” Egelston said.
Memon said there are no plans yet for that building, which does not have plumbing or electricity.
Lusso Motors is expected to open at the end of May after exterior work is completed.
