Fourth business is making pitch to locate at redeveloped Auffenberg Auto Mall in O’Fallon

A Gerber Collision & Glass may locate its first metro-east location in the former Auto Mall complex in O’Fallon, which would make it the fourth business with plans to move there.

Besides the potential site for Gerber Collision & Glass, a new Goodwill and EquipmentShare are moving into buildings on the 23-acre site on U.S. 50, and a Richline Motorsports is expected to present plans soon before members of the city council.

The property was the site of the Auffenberg Auto Mall until the dealership group moved to Shiloh in July 2022. Since then, it has remained empty.

Gerber is an auto body repair and windshield auto glass service that has 840 locations in 34 states and has operated for over 80 years. There are four currently in the St. Louis metropolitan area – Arnold, Crystal City, Imperial and South County.

On Tuesday, the O’Fallon Planning Commission unanimously approved an application from Brian Hosch of Vision Development and Construction Group to permit auto body repair uses at 141 Auto Court, a 1.76-acre site. That spot was used as a paint booth, repair facility and photo booth to fix and promote the vehicles the dealers were going to sell.

Gerber would renovate the 16,200-square-foot building for the garage, with a 24,000-square-foot area for outdoor vehicle storage. The planned use request advances to the next Community Development Committee meeting, then council meeting after that, if approved.

The site had been approved for light manufacturing of railroad safety equipment earlier this year, but that never came to fruition. Because it was formerly used for automotive sales and service by the dealer group, an auto-service design – primarily vehicle bays – likely remains in the building.

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

The city’s Community Development Department 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,” Mayor Herb Roach said.

Grant Litteken, an assistant city administrator who is currently the acting community development director, said the staff is interviewing next week for former director Justin Randall’s replacement.

He said the city staff has been working hard to fill the empty buildings.

“These four places are encouraging. It has been a priority of the council to get these locations filled, and it’s coming along very nicely,” Litteken said.

MERS Goodwill

MERS Goodwill is moving into the former Kia dealership building, 106 Auto Court. It has been renovating the space and expect it to open around February or March 2025. It will be both a retail center and a donation drop-off site.

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

Mark Kahrs, executive vice president, said the O’Fallon location will likely take the place of the former Pier 1 Imports building.

“We’re not sure yet what we’re going to do with that building,” Kahrs said.

Kahrs said he has been hearing positive feedback for this new spot because it will be able to service O’Fallon, Shiloh, Fairview Heights and other nearby communities.

“We’re excited to be going in there. We feel it will be more convenient, off the highway, and closer to other retailers. It will create synergy,” he said.

Jason Rybak, who oversees Goodwill development projects locally, said the interior is designed to be “very clean, very bright, efficient, and welcoming.”

“It won’t look anything like a car dealership,” Rybak said.

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.

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.

EquipmentShare

EquipmentShare, an equipment rental business, is in the process of moving into 117 Auto Court, which had been used for Auffenberg Pre-Owned vehicle sales and Allstate Insurance offices in O’Fallon. The council approved its application in July.

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.

Richline Motorsports

Specializing in automotive customization, Richline Motorsports is a tire dealer and repair shop with an extensive collection of aftermarket accessories, wheels, tires, lowering kits, and lift kits designed to customize rides.

Aftermarket car parts are replacement parts that are not made by the original equipment manufacturer of the vehicle. The company was founded in 2001.

Litteken said plans for its space at the former auto mall are in the works.

This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 5:30 AM.