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Oakland Acura Opens State-of-the-Art Showroom on Coliseum Auto Row

Published

8 years ago

October 5, 2018

From left to right: Senior Manager of National Field Sales of Acura, Mamadou Diallo, Managing Partner Gordon Walton of Acura, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Managing Partner of Oakland Acura Eileen Walton, Oakland City Council member Lynette Gibson-McElhaney and City Council President Larry Reid.

A few dozen influential community leaders and long-time residents of East Oakland’s District 7 gathered in the Acura showroom to celebrate a new chapter for business and community.

Oakland Acura has been a long time business in Oakland since 1986 and has recently moved to a new facility at 6701 Oakport St., which will soon be changed to Coliseum Auto Row in hopes of attracting more auto dealerships to the location. The location is great for the dealership, customers and the community.

“This is Oakland’s moment, this business is incredibly Oaklandish. We care about our environment and community,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

The new facility is environmentally friendly with solar panels, energy efficient heating and cooling, energy efficient insulation and windows and uses recycled water for the car wash. The parking lot has bio retention systems designed to capture rain runoff and keep pollutants out of the storm drains.

The construction began in April 2017 on the new 38,000- square-foot facility with that includes an expansive showroom, 18 service bays, a large detail shop with a car wash and 335 parking spaces for the dealership’s inventory, customer and employee parking.

City Council President Larry Reid’s Office, and staff from the City’s Economic & Workforce Development Department identified a 3.6 acre, City-owned parcel on Oakpart Street that offered unparalleled freeway visability. The team worked tirelessly with Oakland Acura to negotiate the sale, at fair-market value.

“Oakland Acura is a family- owned business. Both owners ( Gordon Walton and Dave Robb) families’ have been in the auto industry for four generations. In 1856, my great- great-grandfather immigrated from Canada to Oakland,” said Eileen Walton, Managing Partner of Oakland Acura.

Walton continued to speak about the importance of engagement in this new community and hopes of partnering with more community groups and leaders in their new home.

The retention of Oakland Acura was very important for well-paying jobs and sales tax revenue.

“We can’t afford to lose auto dealerships. Plus, Gordan and Dave Rob are just great people with great families who love the city of Oakland,” said Reid.This is a great move for the community and business moving forward. In this time of hyper prosperity for Oakland, it’s vital for this to happen.

“This is wonderful to see. It’s quite amazing to see what can happen when businesses and commities come together. I couldn’t help but think about our founding father Mr. Honda, our philosophy is rejoice.

The joy of creating products that society wanted and a product that will enrich people’s life. The joy of selling and the joy of buying. The second-biggest purchase other than a home. On behalf of our executive team, we would like to say thank you for your commitment and we will support you so you can have great success,” said Mamadou Diallo, Senior Manager, National Field Sales, Acura.

As a token for the dedication and commitment to the City of Oakland. President of the City of Oakland Larry Reid presented a proclamation for “Oakland Acura Day” to Oakland Acura’s Managing Partner Gordon Walton.

Notable attendees recognized were assistant city administrator Maraskeshia Smith, Alameda county board of education trustee Amber Childress, President of National Coalition of 100 Black Women Sheyl Perry Lee, President and CEO of Oakland Chamber of commerce Barbara Leslie, longtime residents Sylvester Gisby and Jean Blackshire, City council member Lynette Gibson McElhaney.