2018 Automotive News Canada All Stars

As land prices soar and consumers’ buying habits shift, two Toronto-area retailers — Downtown Auto Group (DAG) and Grand Touring Automobiles (GTA) — are quickly adapting. 

After core-area land values soared as high as $25 million per acre, DAG partnered with Streetcar Developments to develop a five-acre lot DAG owned in east Toronto. They built condos, retail space, and several dealerships. “It . . . brought the whole project to a realistic level that made sense,” said Shahin Alizadeh, DAG’s CEO. 

GTA meanwhile opened a five-storey luxury dealership. Its cantilevered building overlooks the busy Don Valley Parkway, displaying seven brands in separate showrooms. The rooftop parking area doubles as event space. “We’re right beside the competitors, and being along the Don Valley Parkway is tremendous exposure for our brands,” said Mark LeRoeye, GTA COO.