By Pamela Fisher
Mangino Buick GMC, located at 1484 Saratoga
Road in Ballston Spa, is changing its dealership
and will be building an entirely new structure with
an updated showroom, service area and modernized
services for its customers.
This is the second renovation for the familyowned
business, following the gutting and remodeling
of the Mangino Chevrolet site in Amsterdam.
The general contractor for both projects is JAG
Construction Inc. in Queensbury.
The dealership is making upgrades as required
by General Motors. The auto maker issued a
restructuring plan to all locations, calling for the
same design and specifications from site to site.
In conjunction with the plan, Ralph Mangino,
manager of the Ballston Spa site, said the time
was right to modernize the building.
“We are tearing down our old building that has been here for more than 40 years and we are putting up a new state-of-the-art facility,” said Mangino. “Though it has served us very well, our building has become dated.”
Mangino said the upgrades have been well received in Amsterdam, and will provide greater comfort and amenities for customers, including a modernized service area.
“They will be able to drive right up and not get out of their cars. There is going to be a nice, new waiting area with Wi-Fi and a flatscreen television. Customers are going to be able to pick up brand new cars inside so the weather is not going to be an issue anymore.”
Mangino said the service department is receiving the first updates, and despite construction, there won’t be any days missed of work. He said so far the project has been “a seamless transition from old to new,” and based on the successful renovations to the Amsterdam site, he is confi – dent his customers and staff will be happy with the changes.
“I am excited for customers, but I am probably more excited for our employees that have been in this situation for a long time,” he said. “I’m excited for the staff to have a brand new place to work.” The renovations also enable the business to increase its staff. Mangino anticipates hiring more service technicians, and possibly one to two more salespeople.
Mangino said business “has been very good, even amidst construction.”
“With the renovations, we are running out of space. We are certainly eager to put car deals together to get them off the lot,” he said.
The Mangino family has operated the Ballston Spa showroom since 1978. The new building is expected to be complete by the end of 2013. For more information call Mangino Buick GMC at 490-1269 or visit www.mangino.com.