Darling’s new site typifies development in Ellsworth

ELLSWORTH – An expanded, customer-focused Darling’s Auto Mall opened this week off Route 3, the first new retailer of many planned for the city’s booming Myrick Triangle development district.

“I think we can say that the needle just went into the balloon,” Ellsworth City Council Chairman Gary Fortier said Tuesday.

The area of Route 3, Route 1 and Myrick Street, which forms a triangle, is at the center of the city’s comprehensive plan to attract a variety of retailers.

Home improvement giant Lowe’s is nearing construction almost directly behind the new Darling’s location. A Home Depot already is in the triangle.

A Massachusetts-based developer is bringing in a 200,000-square-foot store that most agree will be a Wal-Mart Supercenter, along with several other smaller retail stores that have yet to be named.

The sky seems to be the limit for Ellsworth.

“I know a lot of people dead set against this development, but I really think it’s going to take Ellsworth to the next level,” Fortier said.

What separates Darling’s from the Lowe’s stores and Wal-Marts of the world, is that it’s a local company, and has been for more than 100 years.

“We’re starting to see some real important commercial interest and it’s nice to see a commitment to the future of Ellsworth’s economy,” Ellsworth City Manager Stephen Gunty said.

Kevin Tesseo, general manager of the Ellsworth Darling’s, said the new location nearly doubles the previous space, which was just a short distance away on High Street.

In addition to increasing the inventory to about 300 vehicles, the expansion updates amenities such as the service reception area and customer lounge. It also provides new comforts such as wireless internet and free shuttle service.

“We really wanted to provide our customers what they really want,” Tesseo explained. “Our goal was to bring all the conveniences of a large market dealership to a smaller market.”

Darling’s Auto Mall, one of the state’s largest car dealerships, has locations in Bangor and Waterville. The Ellsworth location opened in 1994 but has gradually been growing out of its initial space.

“The old location was really too small,” Darling’s Vice President Jay Darling said. “But we’ve had good luck in this area and it was a fairly easy decision to find a new spot.”

“We started looking for land a couple years back, but we really wanted to stay close to the center of Ellsworth,” Tesseo added. “We knew this was an area of high development and we took a chance.”

Visibility at the new location should be optimal, especially in the summer months when thousands travel each day to and from Mount Desert Island.

“They are at the pinnacle of where the traffic is going to be busiest and they’re an excellent type of commercial business for that location,” Gunty said.

Darling’s is one of Maine’s top 20 largest privately held companies, with annual sales of more than $150 million.

The Ellsworth location employs a few less than 50 workers, from salespeople to maintenance staff.