NORTHAMPTON — Plans to replace the former Lia Auto Group dealership on Damon Road with a new Dunkin’ Donuts and 6,200 square feet of retail space are in the works.
“We have not finalized the sale yet, but will hopefully in the next couple months work out the details,” said Emanuel Sardinha, co-owner of American Dream Realty LLC.
Sardinha, who runs the property management company with his parents, brother and sister, said they expect to complete the purchase by early next year. The Northampton Zoning Board approved the zoning application on Sept. 14.
Sardinha declined to disclose how much his company plans to pay for the property. The current owner, Robert S. Thomas, bought the 55 Damon Road property in 1985 for $480,000, according to records on file at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds.
Currently, there are no plans for the 6,200 square feet of retail space included in the site plan.
“At the moment no we just want to keep it open to any ideas or any concept that would like to partner with us,” he said. “It’s a great corner lot. There’s a lot of traffic and it’s right on the corner of the industrial park, so I think it will be a good spot.”
His family already manages the two Dunkin’ Donuts locations on King Street — one stand-alone and one inside the Pride gas station — and another inside the Shell gas station on Pleasant Street through the operating company Hampton Donuts, Inc.
“We wanted to build a place with better parking and more seating,” Sardinha said.
Sardinha says that if the new Damon Road location opens, they plan to close the nearby Pride gas station location at 375 King St. His family manages 14 Dunkin’ Donuts locations via six different property management companies in Northampton, Haydenville, Southampton and Westfield.
Once paperwork is complete, the remodeling process will take about eight months, Sardinha said. Changes to the property include demolition of a 5,000 square foot garage, a new stormwater drainage system, landscaping, new pavement, a drive-thru window and some interior upgrades.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@gazettenet.com