Rohrman Auto Group opens new facility

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - With a movie theater and playground, Lafayette's newest auto dealership isn't your grandfather's car lot. The Bob Rohrman Auto Group's newest location in Lafayette is open and ready for business.

Bob Rohrman's first dealership in Lafayette was Toyota. His latest showroom, at 45,000 square feet, is by far the largest and most unusual. Featuring a ground floor showroom, indoor children's playroom, movie theater, and conference room with space for 200, Rohrman said he wanted to build something special.

“I want to put back in the car business what it's given me, because I started right here in Lafayette. People are going to know that this is Lafayette, this is central Indiana,” Rohrman said.

Rohrman said the economic downturn in 2008 and the tsunami in Japan forced the new dealership to open later than expected.

“The computers that went in those cars were all made in Japan in a factory that got swept out to sea. So, they could manufacture the cars, but they would have to sit there until they got these parts,” said Rohrman.

The dealership is a fusion of American and Asian design and color. It features indoor service bays, a 20-bay service shop, and an indoor, new car delivery area.

Rohrman is also building a new dealership in Kenosha, Wisc., which will be his first dealership in that state.