MERS Goodwill among businesses moving into old Auffenberg Auto Mall in O’Fallon

MERS Goodwill plans to move into the former Kia dealership building in the old auto mall in O’Fallon.

That will be the second space to be occupied in the former Auffenberg-owned property, which is 23 acres on U.S. 50.

O’Fallon Community Development Director Justin Randall confirmed that a building permit has been issued for the redevelopment of 106 Auto Court to become a new Goodwill store.

MERS Goodwill has store locations on Commerce Lane in Fairview Heights and on North Belt West in Belleville.

Goodwill Industries International supports a network of more than 150 local Goodwill organizations. The MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries annually serves more than 11,000 individuals, and currently operates 46 locations in 93 counties in the bi-state area, according to its website.

Revenues from 44 Goodwill stores assist with funding MERS Goodwill job training and employment services along with four Missouri-based locations of The Excel Center, free public high schools that give adults the opportunity to earn an actual high school diploma. For more information, www.mersgoodwill.org.

EquipmentShare at Auto Mall

EquipmentShare is moving an equipment rental business into 117 Auto Court, which had been used for Auffenberg Pre-Owned vehicle sales and Allstate Insurance offices in O’Fallon.

Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it is a nationwide construction technology company. Plans are to renovate the 10,863-square-foot building for its Advanced Solutions division.

This division rents climate control equipment, compressed air systems, fluid solutions, power solutions, and industrial tooling solutions.

The proposed store would rent small mobile power generators, pumps, and portable air conditioning units. The space will have outdoor inventory.

EquipmentShare was founded in 2015 by two brothers who were experienced contractors, Jabbok and Willy Schlacks. Their website said they were on a mission to transform the construction industry through technology.

After recommendations from the planning commission, the O’Fallon City Council approved the project July 1.

Auto Mall Progress

The Capital Automotive Real Estate Investment Trust, based in Virginia, is the current owner of the auto mall property. It specializes in auto dealerships. Jamie Auffenberg sold it the property.

For the auto mall site, Randall said he has been working with the property owners to explore further options other than regional commerce.

“They’ve been open to look at different ideas and different concepts,” Randall said.

The development of the St. Clair Auto Mall created several interior lots without frontage to Interstate 64 and Highway 50. Construction began on the auto mall in 1989, and the final structure was built in 2004.

It is surrounded by mostly commercial developments. To the east is Home Depot, Lincoln Crossing and Walmart. South is Aspen Dental, MedExpress, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Castle Acres, and west is Watson’s and Metro East Christian Church.

In March 2017, Auffenberg announced it would move to 36 acres on Frank Scott Parkway East, east of the Green Mount Crossing Shopping Center, behind Target, and adjacent to Interstate 64.

The group struck a deal with the village of Shiloh, which offered a sales tax rebate worth up to $14 million to move and the dealership opened in July 2022. At that time, Auffenberg owners said manufacturers and franchisors wanted major updates, and the buildings and parking lots were inadequate.

The Auffenberg Dealer Group currently has dealerships for Ford, Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Nissan, Kia, Mazda, and Volkswagen on Frank Scott Parkway. An Auffenberg Hyundai is being built across from that complex, about 30 acres away at Fortune Boulevard is in the works.

Prior to Interstate 64 opening in the metro-east in 1975, that area of St. Clair County was mainly agricultural.

A German company was to have moved its light manufacturing and assembly operation there this spring but selected Mascoutah instead after negotiations with owners stalled.

Pintsch North America, which specializes in railroad safety, worked out a favorable deal with the owner of a grocery stores warehouse in Mascoutah, and relocated from Marion, Illinois, to 205 Harnett Street in Mascoutah on May 1.

Pintsch has four employees in Mascoutah, but in three to four years, Pratt foresees hiring up to 12 people.

This story was originally published September 1, 2024 at 6:10 AM with the headline "MERS Goodwill among businesses moving into old Auffenberg Auto Mall in O’Fallon."