After nearly a year since breaking ground on the new Dick Edwards Auto Plaza located off Goldenbelt Boulevard, adjacent to I-70 in Junction City, the ribbon was cut and the doors were open Monday morning.

The $11 million project includes the approximately 50,000 square foot facility with a climate controlled service area and a show room three times the size of the one at the Grant Avenue Location. The car lot itself will hold up to as many as 300 cars.

Dick Edwards said that the new location is a new experiment, “It’s exciting and it’s scary. It will take a lot of cars and a lot of customers,” he said. “I hope we can do it and do it right.”

Edwards is keeping the Quick Lane and body shop at the location on Grant Avenue.

Tom Weigand, Junction City area Camber of Commerce CEO, said that the new dealership means a lot for Junction City and called it a gateway to the community,”Excellent, modern, the most modern automobile facility with a great inventory that’s really got to bring some attention and recognition. People will maybe hit their brakes when they see this and turn in and check out the rest of the stuff in the community.”

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony Dick Edwards delivered the first car sold at the new location to Frank and Betty Russell of Gypsum. The Russell’s purchased a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country.

“I went to Wichita, to McPherson, to Salina, to Great Bend and this is where I decided to by,” Frank said.”I liked what I seen, I liked the personnel they weren’t pushy, they answered my questions, they didn’t try to push extras off on me like some dealers. They were more interested in what I wanted then trying to sell me on the vehicle.”