West Herr Expanding BMW Dealership in Clarence, New York

The need for additional space to showcase used vehicles, prompted the West Herr Automotive Group to acquire a recently-closed Clarence motel, setting the stage for an expansion of its neighboring BMW dealership.

West Herr, through its WHAG Properties VII LLC, paid $1.8 million for the former 40-room Budget Inn motel at 8255 Main St. The deal, which closed on April 30, according to documents filed in the Erie County Clerk's office, has been in the works since late last year.

The property had been owned by Shrui Swami LLC, according to county clerk’s records.
Scott Bieler, West Herr president and CEO, said his company plans to demolish the motel and build a used vehicle lot and showroom for the company’s adjoining BMW dealership. West Herr acquired the BMW dealership from the Towne Automotive Group in early 2023.

“We just didn’t have enough room for the used cars on the BMW lot,” Bieler said. “Quite frankly, we needed the space.”

Only used vehicles from the BMW dealership will be sold on the former motel site, Bieler said. The deal will create an expanded BMW dealership campus.

The plans have been approved by the Town of Clarence.

Bieler said the demolition and subsequent construction will begin “very soon.”
The hotel opened in 1963 and closed late last year.

In another suburban commercial real estate deal:
• Makmimad Properties LLC paid $800,000 for a multi-tenant, mixed-use building at 3555 North Buffalo Rd., Orchard Park, according to April  30 filings in the county clerk's office.

The 11,442-square-foot building, which dates back to 1940, had been owned RGC Development LLC.