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Former Reds player hopes to score big with new Honda dealership

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Former Cincinnati Red Joe Morgan signs one of the shovels used during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Honda dealership he will own in Monroe on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Former Cincinnati Red Joe Morgan signs one of the shovels used during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Honda dealership he will own in Monroe on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.

Big Red Machine second baseman Joe Morgan on hand for groundbreaking in Monroe.

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 6:55 AM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

MONROE — Former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan said he is hoping the economy improves next year by the time he opens his new Honda dealership.

“We’re not going to open until next summer, and we’re hoping that by then the economy will have changed a little bit and the environment will have changed,” he said during a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the future site of Joe Morgan Honda on Garver Road in Monroe.

The dealership bears the name of the Hall of Fame second baseman and ESPN baseball analyst, who is the majority owner of the dealership.

It will be located in the Warren County portion of Monroe on about 4.5 acres just south of Treasure Aisles flea market off Ohio 63 and Interstate 75.

Morgan’s wife also attended the ceremony, along with several Honda officials from California and the Greater Cincinnati area and John Voss, co-owner of the dealership. Also in attendance were Dick Lange, general manager of the dealership, and several Monroe officials.

Morgan, an Oakland native who resides in Danville, Calif., said he chose Monroe because it is a growing community along Interstate 75.

“The mall is there, the flea markets here draw people over the weekend ... there’s just a lot going on here and we expect it to continue. The one good thing is we’re close enough to Dayton that we can draw from there, and we’re very close to Cincinnati.

“I think we’re in a location that allows us to take advantage of two big cities,” Morgan said.

“John (Voss) has been very successful in the automobile industry, he knows what we’re doing and we’ve done a lot of research, and so we decided this is where we wanted to go, and this is the time that we wanted to do it.”

City Manager William Brock said Monroe is glad the project finally came to fruition.

“Being where we are and watching it grow and watching it come together, it always seems that it’s going to take a long time. They committed to move forward even with the economy the way it is, and we’re very pleased that this day is here,” he said.

The project calls for a 28,553-square-foot automobile sales and service area that will perform full service work. Plans also call for a collision center to be built at the dealership after the initial opening, Voss said.

Kevin Chesar, the director of development for Monroe, said the project will include 167,467 square feet of outdoor sales area and a total of $3.5 million in real property value improvements.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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last time I got off the highway at Monroe, it was a disaster. Traffic everywhere, weird traffic flow, took 30 minutes to stop to use restroom and get a drink. No thanks, Won't be going back anytime soom. Love Joe Morgan, But I'll buy my cars somewhere more accessible...

TAS
1:01 PM, 11/18/2009

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I wonder if Monroe will allow a "slanted" road leading to the place like there is on the SE side of new 63, that is so "slanted" people will be sliding off in thw winter!!!!
Talk of a cluster f**k Monroe's new highway is one.
All these new young engineers must not have to take drug test, another project the state has scr*wed up.

Britton
11:06 AM, 11/18/2009

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Middletown will not get any new auto dealers, unless it is another BUY HERE PAY HERE LOT!!

samson
10:52 AM, 11/18/2009

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“I wonder if the Big Three auto makers”
Not the big "three", if you remember FORD has never taken any of the gov bailout money and do not belong in this group. If you want to talk about it’s the main 2, excluding FORD.

scoobydo
10:42 AM, 11/18/2009

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As a Monroe citizen I am very proud of the fact we continue to attract new business to the area especially in these difficult economic times. Thank you to Monroe city council and the administrative leaders of our community.

OK, where were our fine Butler County Commissioners, again they have snubbed Northern Butler County. Are they afraid to set foot in Warren County or did they forget where Monroe was again. Remember election time is coming soon.

MPM57
9:40 AM, 11/18/2009

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