Franklin auto dealer opens lot at former 'Basket World' locatio in The Weirs

LACONIA — Benson Auto, Inc. of Franklin, a year into its second century as the oldest Chevrolet dealership in the country, is opening a used car lot at The Weirs on the property on the corner of U.S. Route 3 and Rollercoaster Road that formerly housed Basket World.

In December, B&B Land Development, LLC, whose principal Corey Benson is the co-owner and general manager of the firm, acquired the one acre parcel and 3,456-square-foot building for $220,000, or about two-thirds of its assessed value.

John Hastings, general sales manager, said that the firm is growing and took an opportunity to bring "all makes and models of quality pre-owned vehicles" closer to its customers in the Lakes Region. "This is a great family-owned business with an excellent reputation and this is an opportunity to save customers from around the lake a trip all the way down here," he said.

Hastings said that apart from "cleaning things up a bit," no major renovations of the building will be undertaken and the dealership should be "up and running" by the end of next week.