CHANGES MADE IN CAPE AUTO SCENE

Ted Berry, left, general manager at Soskin Cape Toyota, shared a chuckle with sales manager Kamran Sarwar in front of the store. Cape Toyota-Suzuki has become Soskin Cape Toyota-Suzuki, and will observe its grand opening in early March.

Wieser Honda Motor Co. has moved into its new full-service facility at 385 Siemers Drive in the Cape West Business Park, west of Interstate 55.

Jack McDonough is in the new-car business again following a couple of deals "too good to pass up."

Cape Toyota-Suzuki has become Soskin Cape Toyota-Suzuki and will observe its grand opening in early March.

The Cape Girardeau new-car business has moved west over the past decade, and within the past three months some major changes have taken place, resulting in one new new-car dealership.

Jerry Wieser, who previously owned Wieser Honda-Mazda, has moved his operation, from 2611 Auto Park, to the new Honda facility in Cape West Business Park.

In the process, Wieser sold the Mazda dealership to McDonough. Earlier, in October, McDonough had sold his Toyota-Suzuki dealership to Alan Soskin of St. Louis.

Wieser's 15,000-square-foot Honda Center is one of 100 specially designed Honda facilities planned this year in the United States.

"We moved last weekend," said David Kinder, manager of the facility.

Wieser is a veteran in the Cape Girardeau auto sales industry and a veteran with the Honda dealership.

Wieser opened his first Cape Girardeau auto dealership - M.G., Austin Healy -- in 1956 and obtained the Honda dealership in 1975. Wieser added the Mazda dealership in 1976.

Wieser's Town & Country Motors also handled Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge. Wieser sold Town and Country to Auffenberg Motors in 1989 but repurchased the Honda-Mazda dealership, 2611 Auto Park Drive, a couple of years later.

McDonough, another veteran auto dealer, has assumed the Mazda dealership at its 2611 Autopark Drive site under the name McDonough Mazda.

McDonough has been around auto sales since he was 13.

"My dad started selling used cars in 1946," said McDonough. "He went into new-car sales in 1953. I've been around the automotive business about 50 years."

McDonough opened the Toyota dealership at Cape Girardeau in 1983, five years after it had been established.

He wasn't planning on getting out of the business, "but a deal came along I couldn't resist," he said.

McDonough tired of retirement quickly.

"I was looking for a used-car location when Wieser decided to take on Honda only," said McDonough. "He made me a good offer on Mazda, and I couldn't refuse."

McDonough was familiar with Mazda. His father was previously a Mazda dealer.

McDonough's son, Wade McDonough, will be involved in the Mazda operation and will be in charge of parts and service. Paul Horton, who previously worked with McDonough two years ago, rejoined McDonough and will serve as general sales manager.

Soskin, who owns a Toyota dealership, is majority partner of a group that purchased the former McDonough Cape Toyota-Suzuki business.

Ted Berry, previously of Little Rock, Ark., where he was manager of a Toyota dealership, is general manager of Soskin Cape Toyota.

"We like the Cape Girardeau area," said Berry. "The closest Toyota dealership is 70 to 80 miles away, and the area has become a major hub of activity."

Soskin Toyota kept on most of the previous owner's employees. After almost three months, Berry and Soskin have not been disappointed.

"Toyota sales have skyrocketed," said Berry.

Berry and Soskin, who visit the dealership every week to 10 days, both have more than 15 years experience in auto sales.

"We're looking to our grand opening," said Berry. The grand opening is planned for the first week of March.

At one time in Cape Girardeau, new-car dealerships were situated throughout town -- Independence Street, Sprigg Street and South Kingshighway.

The bulk of the new-car dealerships -- eight of nine -- are on Kingshighway, from Cape GMC Pontiac Inc. in the 700 block of South Kingshighway to Ford Groves Motor Co in the 1500 block of North Kingshighway.