[9] Hyannis Bmw Becomes Monthly Discuss

HYANNIS – From his office on the upper floor of the gleaming white 500 Yarmouth Road BMW dealership, Joe Laham is overseeing a long-term plan to transform the Cape’s car-buying landscape.

The standalone building that opened in November 2014 was the third of its kind built under BMW’s “future retail” program. Walk through the tall glass doors into its vast interior and you’ll see model cars and a laid-back sales team and experience concierge-like reception and even specially scented air.

“You have to hit all of the senses, “Laham said Friday. “This is not the old Cape Cod. We can have beautiful surroundings that create what I consider a better environment for our clients.”

Laham is going for a similar effect with the sleek, glass-fronted Audi “terminal” at 25 Falmouth Road — the former Trans-Atlantic Motors site — near the Airport Rotary, which is entering the final phases of construction.

“When we purchased Audi, one of the requirements was that we build a new, exclusive building,” he said. “So we developed the site to suit the Audi luxury brand. It’s a huge investment, not just in facilities but also in our staff and our clients.”

Construction has included excavating the lot, where Laham previously sold Volvos and BMWs, down 20 feet to make room for an underground parts and service department.

“These are exciting times. We see a lot of change occurring,” he said. “Next to our Audi store, there are plans to put in a new CVS and we’re pursuing an opportunity to adopt the rotary and beautify it.”

Back on Yarmouth Road, the wide ledge of Laham’s office window is papered with construction blueprints. He recently sold his Toyota/Scion and Nissan dealership outside Newport, Rhode Island, to go all-in on the Cape.

Next to BMW of Cape Cod and his Premier Cape Cod Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram dealership, Laham has purchased the two adjacent properties. On one, Balise Hyundai of Cape Cod continues to operate under a lease agreement. The other is the former Buick GMC Cadillac of Cape Cod dealership, which closed without warning on Sept. 22.

Laham said he is well on the way toward securing exclusive rights to market a luxury brand at the former Buick location. Once the deal is sealed, he’ll approach the town about demolishing the existing structure and erect a new dedicated building on the site for the brand.

“We’re not interested in going backwards. We’re interested in progressing with our company and what better way to do that than with a nice, clean slate,” he said.

Laham now controls a contiguous stretch of east side Yarmouth Road real estate that begins just after Rosary Lane at Baynes Electrical Supply Co. and extends south to Ferndoc St., where Mid-Cape Tire & Auto Service Center sits. Altogether, his Yarmouth Road property covers about 15 acres.

Back in 2013, the Cape Cod Commission, with input from local officials, business people and residents, completed a Hyannis access study, which included a preferred alternative to extend the four-lane configuration of Willow Street through Yarmouth Road all the way to Route 28.

Major land takings on the west side of Yarmouth Road to the railroad track right-of-way would be required for such an expansion. So would federal funding. The commission is currently exploring with the town of Barnstable alternative grant funding that could speed the process along.

But once the project is completed, Laham, who also plans to renovate the existing Premier Chrysler buildings, will be a major presence on the upgraded gateway road into Hyannis.

Closer to the village center, Laham owns Premier Mazda at 141 Stevens St. and Volvo Cars Cape Cod at 270 North St., which he will be renovating as well.

At the moment, across all five stores, Laham employs 110 people, all full-time, plus a number of seniors who help move cars on a part-time basis.

“We have a tenured staff committed to our long-term goal, which is to create a sustainable business,” he said.

But wait. There’s more.

Laham is also planning to purchase and demolish the now-vacant, one-time Nissan dealership at the corner of Stevens and North Streets and build a “certified collision center” there to restore damaged vehicles to manufacturers’ specifications for the brands he sells and, possibly, for others, too.

“We think there is a significant future for Cape Cod to grow and expand and become much more vibrant than it is today,” Laham said. “We have made and continue to make significant investments in this community and we are excited to be here. We think it’s a great place to do business.”

—Follow Lorelei Stevens on Twitter: @CCTLorelei.