After 50 years in Burnaby, the Morrey Auto Group is expanding, and the newest addition is bringing a touch of class to the company's dealerships in the city.
The family-owned company has announced it will open Morrey Infiniti next to its current Nissan dealership on Still Creek Avenue next spring.
"We're finally in an exciting market for luxury business being basically next to the downtown core market," said Jason Morrey, general manager of Infiniti Coquitlam. "And our hopes are to add one more layer of product and luxury experience to our Morrey Auto Group clientele, as well as offering a high performance luxury vehicle to the Burnaby community."
The company decided to bring the brand to Burnaby after 20 years of success in Coquitlam, he said.
"We're very excited. The Coquitlam location has done a lot of growth, particularly over the last 10 years with the growth in the community," Jason said. "So business has been growing every year for the last 10 years, and we're excited about this next step."
The cost of land was a consideration, he said, and the company strategically bought the Still Creek Avenue property when it became clear it would be an ideal location for the new dealership.
"We bought the property over five years ago and we were just waiting for the right time to develop it," Jason said. "We're very excited because that corridor in Burnaby has become the focal point for luxury automotive in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, with the other brands on Boundary there, with BMW and Mercedes and Audi. So this is an excellent fit with adding the Infiniti brand to Burnaby there."
It is also ideal in terms of easy access from the Trans-Canada Highway, he added.
The company has been a Burnaby institution since Syd Morrey bought a dealership at Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Avenue in 1964. Today, three generations of Morreys work for the company, with six family members involved in the business, according to Jason.
The Morrey Auto Group includes the Morrey Nissan complex on Still Creek Avenue, next to the new dealership, an autobody shop on Gilmore Avenue, a Mazda dealership at the North Shore Auto Mall and a mobile autoglass service as well, Jason said.
The company has been very involved in the community over the years, Jason added. His father. Gary Morrey, president of the company, has been chair of the board of directors of the Michael J. Fox Theatre since 1993, raising funds for the theatre with the annual golf tournament and gala.
The family is celebrating its 50 years in Burnaby next spring with a special grand opening event when the new Morrey Infiniti of Burnaby dealership opens, Jason said.
The new Infiniti dealership at 4450 Still Creek Ave. will include a six-car showroom, seven-bay service shop and many luxury amenities, according to a press release from the company.
