Venice's Douglas Jeep dealership buys former Darby South Isuzu parcel

BUYER: Douglas Jeep Inc. (principals: Gregory and William Douglas), Venice
SELLER: Darby Buick-Pontiac-GMC Inc.
PROPERTY: 1275 S. U.S. 41 Bypass, Venice
PRICE: $800,000
PREVIOUS PRICE: $462,000, June 1998
LAW FIRM ON DEED: Icard Merrill Cullis Timm Furen & Ginsburg PA, Sarasota

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Venice's Douglas Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram purchased the former Darby South Isuzu dealership property for $800,000.

The 1.3-acre parcel on U.S. 41 Bypass features a 3,438-square-foot building. Darby Automotive previously stopped using it as a dealership lot and had most recently leased it to Wheelchair Vans of Florida.

The new owner plans to use it for vehicle storage. Greg Douglas, president of the Douglas dealership, says that his dealership is running out of room at its 3-acre site at 2382 Tamiami Trail S., Venice.

“We just built a completely brand-new facility,” Douglas says. “We are out of places to stash cars. This also gives us the possibility, because of the visibility, to use it as a used car lot in the future.”

Douglas says sales at his dealership are on track this year to surpass last year, which was the best year in its history. The dealership's staff has tripled since 2010.

Purchase entity Douglas Jeep Inc. mortgaged the property to Ally Bank for $680,000.