Tom Masano Auto Group celebrates new dealership
By: Jennifer Glose
Tom Masano cuts the ribbon at Friday's celebration at the East Wyomissing Boulevard location of his new dealership in Reading. Among attendees at the ceremony were (second from left) Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer and (second from right) Adam Mukerji, executive director of the Reading Redevelopment Authority. (Contributed photo)
A vacant landmark building in Berks County has a new life. Baldwin Hardware closed in 2011, taking about 159 jobs with it, but the 50-year-old building and its 28 acres soon will become a Tom Masano Auto Group dealership, bringing with it new jobs for Berks County.
The Reading auto group bought the 250,000 square-foot facility and will develop it into its newest auto in the 800 block of East Wyomissing Boulevard in the city, and the group held a ribbon cutting on Friday at the site to celebrate the company's new venture.
"This new dealership is the mark of a new chapter in the Masano Auto Group history and for the brands we sell," John Masano said.
The facility will have an outdoor 600-car lot and an indoor showroom with 400 cars and trucks from five brands.
The facility will be the corporate headquarters for 45 personnel. It will house a 20-bay repair shop with an eight-station car wash and 25-car bay collision facility and include a Wi-Fi lounge and children's theater and offer brick-oven pizza.
"It's great that Tom is doing such a major revitalization of the facility," said Jon Scott, president and CEO of Greater Reading Economic Partnership.
Baldwin was founded in 1946 by the late Severin Fayerman – and named Baldwin Brass – a manufacturer of high-end decorative brass. In 1982, Masco Corp. bought it, selling it in 2003 to Stanley Black & Decker – becoming Baldwin Hardware – before closing in 2011.
The Tom Masano Auto Group owns a nearby Mercedes-Benz and BMW dealership on Lancaster Avenue in Reading, a Ford/Lincoln dealership on Lancaster Avenue in Shillington and Mazda and Mitsubishi dealerships on Route 61 in Muhlenberg Township.
"It's very positive … ," Scott said of the soon-to-be dealership. "And it certainly has potential on adding jobs and keeping things moving positively ahead with the community."
11:49 am Tue, May 26, 2015 LVB
Jennifer Glose
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Reporter Jennifer Glose covers health care, Berks County and other topics. She can be reached at jenniferg@lvb.com or 610-807-9619, ext. 111.