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On the Road: Mercedes breaks new ground in Calgary

Calgary’s a big city now.

With increased density and a higher population, the metropolis is in a position to support more auto facilities.

Following that line of thought, the latest automaker bolstering its presence here is Mercedes-Benz. The luxury automaker has decided it is time for a third store, and the McManes Automotive Group will be at the helm.

“Calgary is big enough to support a third Mercedes-Benz store,” said Jim McManes of his company’s venture. “It’s a great opportunity for us, and there’s a lot of development going on in this northeast area.”

McManes and his son, Mike, are set to begin construction on a 94,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Country Hills Boulevard and Barlow Trail Northeast.

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Breaking ground on the new northeast Mercedes-Benz location in Calgary, on September 12, 2015, from left to right: Mike McManes, McManes Automotive; Jim McManes, president McManes Automotive; Jim Stevenson, councillor Ward 3; Tim Reuss, Pres and CEO; Rick Bowie, vice-president real estate, McManes Automotive; Paul Gilroy, director, process development, Mercedes-Benz; Stefan Karrenbauer, president and CEO, Mercedes-Benz financial services; Ryan Alexander, dealer relation manager, Mercedes-Benz financial services.

Breaking ground on the new northeast Mercedes-Benz location in Calgary, on September 12, 2015, from left to right: Mike McManes, McManes Automotive; Jim McManes, president McManes Automotive; Jim Stevenson, councillor Ward 3; Tim Reuss, President and CEO, Mercedes-Benz; Rick Bowie, vice-president real estate, McManes Automotive; Paul Gilroy, director, process development, Mercedes-Benz; Stefan Karrenbauer, president and CEO, Mercedes-Benz financial services; Ryan Alexander, dealer relation manager, Mercedes-Benz financial services.
Crystal Schick, Calgary Herald

Tim A. Reuss, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, was on hand Sept. 12 at a groundbreaking ceremony. Full-scale construction is slated to begin November 1.

Mercedes-Benz Country Hills will be on eight acres of land at the northwest corner of the two major roads. The facility will feature 31 service bays and eight detail bays, a new-car delivery area ready to accommodate five vehicles and a pre-owned showroom able to hold eight vehicles. The new vehicle showroom will have space to contain 30 vehicles, including AMG, Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Sprinter products.

“In terms of size, it’s on the large end of the scale, especially for a Mercedes-Benz dealership,” McManes said. “The footprint of the structure alone is over two acres – but we’re building it for the long term and not the short term.”

Plans include incorporation of a delicatessen, which Mike McManes said will be closer to a full-service restaurant. Room has also been set aside for a salon – these types of personal amenities are becoming increasingly popular at high-end automotive retail facilities.

“We agree we’re starting construction at a time when economic news is not the best,” McManes said, and continued, “but by the time we’re up and running we should have seen a turnaround.”

Watch for the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Country Hills facility to open spring 2017.

* * *

The biggest little car show in Calgary is under new management.

For 10 years, the Valley Ridge Car Show has taken over the parking lot at the Van Gogh Bar and Grill in the city’s northwest. The show is put on by the Valley Ridge Motorheads, and was looked after by promoter Jim Thornton.

However, Thornton is moving to B.C., and couldn’t continue looking after the humble event, which acts as a fundraiser for the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC).

After a brief search for his replacement, Thornton located a father/daughter team to take the lead for the 11th annual Valley Ridge Car Show. Ralph and Courtney Smith volunteered at the show last year because of the connection to AARC.

“We felt it was important to keep the show running, and to help out and continue to support AARC,” said Courtney Smith.

Smith is 20 years old, and she and her father look after all of the family’s vehicles. Together, they modified her 2006 Volkswagen Jetta by lowering it and installing a different front fascia. She added new rims and tires, and also installed a sound system and customized the interior.

“We started working together on vehicles when I was in grade nine,” Smith said. “We work on everything, the tractors and the ATVs, and my dad’s Prowler and his pickup trucks. I enjoy the experience.”

Smith would like to put some of the skills she’s learned to use in the oilpatch, and has applied to the Petroleum Engineering Technology program at SAIT.

The Valley Ridge Car Show takes place at the Van Gogh Bar and Grill at 11245 Valley Ridge Drive N.W., on Sunday, Sept. 20, from noon to 4 p.m. There’s no charge to enter a car, and it’s free for spectators.

Funds are raised for AARC through “bucket voting.” As cars come in to display, they are each given a sealed ice cream pail with a number on it. Spectators are encouraged to vote for their favourite car by putting in a toonie, or a larger bill. The vehicle that “earns” the most money wins a $75 gift certificate to Van Goghs.

The car show is open to absolutely everything, including exotics, European, hot rods, American muscle, imports, antiques, vintage, classics, home-builts, customs and rat rods. And, motorcycles, too.

Contact Smith via email at courtneylsmithy@gmail.com.

Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have a column tip? Contact him at 403-287-1067, gregwilliams@shaw.ca, or visit gregwilliams.ca.

Valley Ridge Car Show

Van Gogh Grill parking lot, 11245 Valley Ridge Drive N.W. All makes and models welcome, and vote for best of show with a donation to the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre. There’s a $75 Van Gogh Grill gift certificate to the winner. No registration fee, and free for spectators from noon to 4 p.m. Contact Courtney Smith at courtneylsmithy@gmail.com for more details.

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