Callahan Hudson Co.. Owned by James Cahillane. In business from 1948-1957 as a Hudson dealer, AMC after that.


Traces of an autoshop remain. Picture taken sometime between 2009-2013.


2014 building shows it will be home to a couple small businesses.

Sunday marketplace planned for old Dodge dealership

By Bob Flaherty

06/03/2009- Daily Hampshire Gazette

NORTHAMPTON - The storied showroom at the old Cahillane Motors at 375 South St. may not be recognizable in the weeks and months to come. The wide-windowed space with the Sierra-stone floor that once showcased the latest models from Hudson, Rambler, Dodge and Jeep will soon be home to an array of high-end booksellers, antique dealers, artists and photographers - with a farmer's market planned for the parking lot outside.

The Mill River Marketplace is expected to make its debut on Sunday, June 14, in a venture one real-estate marketer said may be just the right thing for this down economy.

Carolyn Misch, senior land use planner for the city, characterized the owners as being in a holding pattern, while still marketing the property to long-term users.

"It's hard to sell commercial property that has a certain value," Misch said. "Everything has slowed down. They are waiting for the right price and the right user for that property."

Patrick Goggins, whose firm has been trying to locate a buyer for the property, said that the asking price is $1.9 million.

"It's another example of the challenge in selling commercial property," he said. "Not a lot of people are looking for entrepreneurial opportunities right now. People are taking fewer risks."

He said that the short-term use the Cahillanes are proposing may be the right answer for these economic times.

Rich and Chris Cahillane, who own the property where their late grandfather, Jim Cahillane, former mayor of Northampton, first expanded his King Street gas station into a thriving dealership in the 1940s, decribe their new venture as a "comfortable, classy destination for Sunday shoppers."

Rich Cahillane describes a "light bulb" moment that led to some frenzied brainstorming. "Someone driving by the place went right down to Chris's (Chris Cahillane's Downtown Auto Sales & Rentals) and said, ¿That'd be a great place for a Sunday marketplace.'"

The Cahillane brothers formed a partnership with Rich's fiancee Annie Thompson, Chris's wife Jacqueline Cahillane, and Rich's daughter Asha Letendre-Cahillane. Thompson plans to run the coffee shop on the premises, tentatively called "The Rambler Cafe."

"I'm bucking for an automotive theme," said Rich Cahillane, whose first car was a Rambler.

Though flea markets and farmer's markets are staples of Valley commerce, and with a Saturday flea market recently begun at the Three County Fairgrounds, the Cahillanes looked around and saw a void.

"The niche seems to be something a little classier, more upscale," said Rich Cahillane, "and there's no farmer's market around here on Sundays."

Chris Cahillane said several vendors have signed on so far. The location can accommodate 50 to 75 vendors.

The air-conditioned showroom contains about 5,000 square feet of space, with more than that available in the adjacent garage, which may be more suitable for those selling garden equipment, sporting goods or machinery.

The property includes parking for 100 cars, with additional parking for vendors. The showroom was remodeled about four years ago, according to Chris Cahillane. He said the garage is being repainted, and no other renovations are required to make the venture work.

The Cahillanes obtained a change-of-use permit from the city's zoning board of appeals in late April. Though the area is zoned residential, the board found that the change of venue would not be any more detrimental to the neighborhood than the former dealership was, according to Misch.

After more than 60 years at the location, the Cahillanes sold the Dodge franchise to the Bertera automotive group in 2006. The Berteras, based in West Springfield, closed the business in the fall of 2008. The place has been vacant since then. Though actively looking for a long-term tenant, the Cahillanes believe the Mill River Marketplace has the potential to be a permanent Northampton fixture.

"This is a great artisan community, where people might want to display their goods for all to see, instead of up on the third floor of an old mill building," said Chris Cahillane. "We wanted to use the property in a way that's beneficial to the community."

The Mill River Marketplace will be open Sundays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Spaces for vendors range from $20 to $70, with any and all ideas entertained. Electricity is available at most locations, with rest rooms in the showroom. WiFi will also be part of the mix.

Interested vendors should contact Rich Cahillane at 413-575-6142 or at rjc@cahillane.com.

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