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GreensboroBuilders.org Sport Auto owner slowing down – and moving next door

Sport Auto owner and Summerfi eld resident Steve Barney stands next to some of the luxury cars he has for sale. Barney plans to downsize and move his luxury auto service/sales operations next door to the showroom on Summerfi eld Road where his business has been located for the past 20+ years.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Sport Auto owner Steve Barney is tapping the brakes after selling Ferraris, Bentleys and other luxury cars from his showroom at 7405 Summerfield Road for the last 20 years. Barney, 79, said he’s entered a contract to sell his nearly half-acre and showroom to a Summerfield resident who plans to convert the 4,800-squarefoot building into a center for his logistics company. Barney plans to relocate his car business next door into Summerfield’s former fire station, which he also owns. After remodeling approximately 2,000 square feet of space, he plans to resume operations in the new location early next year. “It’s time for me to slow down a bit,” Barney said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “I will always be involved somehow buying and selling cars, but at this age, it’s time to let the larger dealership go.” Barney’s plan hinges upon rezoning of his current location. The process starts at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 7, when an open house will be held at Summerfield Town Hall for residents to learn more and ask questions about Barney’s request. The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 The car dealer is seeking to rezone

the property from conditional zoning – general business (CZ-GB) to conditional zoning – business (CZ-BN). The rezoning would limit development of the property for offices/business services, according to Barney’s application for conditional zoning.

The Planning Board will consider Barney’s rezoning request during its meeting Oct. 25, and then forward its recommendation to the Town Council, scheduled to decide on the request during its Nov. 9 meeting. Public hearings during both meetings will allow people to offer their views about the proposed rezoning.

Barney said he’s invited Tom Jones, his longtime mechanic, to relocate with him. He plans to use two of the bays in the old fire station for repair and servicing of cars, while keeping a smaller number of cars, perhaps one or two, in inventory.

Barney started Sport Auto in 2000 after selling his interest in Foreign Cars Italia in Greensboro. Earlier this week, he attended an auto auction in Florida, part of his service of finding specific cars for buyers.

In his new location, Barney said he “will be able to buy and sell a few cars. I want to keep my hand in the business without total retirement. I would run out of things in do in a day or two.”