Coeur dAlene Honda has begun work on a $3 million expansion of its dealership complex on Seltice Way just south of Interstate 90 and a mile west of Northwest Boulevard.


The project includes constructing a 23,000-square-foot showroom and service building that will house the automotive portion of the dealership, which also sells a full line of other Honda products, including all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and lawn mowers, says Kathy Sims, part owner of the business. Those other product lines will continue to be sold from Coeur dAlene Hondas current, 30,000-square-foot building, which is located on the east side of the 5-acre property, at 2745 E. Seltice Way, Sims says.


Sims, who owns the business with her husband, Darrell, and daughter and son-in-law, Rita Sims-Snyder and Ken Snyder, says the new structure, which will be located on the west side of the property, will have a large showroom and 15 auto-service bays, as well as an outside vehicle display area. The project will enable the dealership to increase its automobile inventory to 150 vehicles, both new and used, from about 100 now, she says.


The project is being designed by Patano Architects PA, of Coeur dAlene, and is being constructed by Polin & Young Construction Inc., of Coeur dAlene. It will incorporate a design that Honda is encouraging dealers to employ in their structures, Sims says. Construction is expected to be completed in July. The structure, which will be visible from both Seltice and I-90, will be accessible from Seltice.


Coeur dAlene Hondas current dealership building has three showrooms for all of its product lines and seven auto-service bays, Sims says.


Sims and her husband have been selling Honda motorcycles since 1968. Theyve been at the Seltice Way location since 1971 and began selling Honda automobiles in 1974.


Sims declines to disclose the dealerships annual revenues, but says theyve been on the rise.


Weve had a good year, she says. Sales have increased substantially.


The dealership currently employs about 48 people. Sims says the dealership expects to add employees after it opens its new building. Coeur dAlene Honda is one of few Honda dealerships across the country that sells a full line of Honda products, from lawnmowers to automobiles, she says.