Midway Automotive Group Inc. has sold its Nissan auto dealership in Post Falls to Henderson, Nev.-based Findlay Automotive Group, and plans to focus on its recently expanded and remodeled Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership next door, says Joe Arrotta, Midway's president.

Findlay's acquisition marks that company's third auto franchise in that area, which is known as the I-90 Autoplex.

Arrotta says family-run Midway Automotive has decided to shift its commitment to the full lines of Chrysler-brand vehicles after having acquired the Dodge dealership from Tom Addis Dodge, in Coeur d'Alene, last year.

"We bought the Dodge dealership and moved it to the Chrysler-Jeep facility," he says. "Now, that gives us Midway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram."

Ram is the recently rebranded name for the Dodge truck line, Arrotta says.

The Midway dealership is located at 550 N. Alberta, just north of Interstate 90, about halfway between the Spokane Street and State Route 41 freeway interchanges in Post Falls.

The Nissan franchise sale to Findlay includes the 2.3-acre sales lot and an 18,000-square-foot showroom and service facility at 1800 E. Polson, which is just east of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, he says. The terms of the sale weren't disclosed.

A Findlay representative couldn't be reached for comment.

Midway and Findlay completed the transaction Friday, and Findlay has covered the Midway name there with its own banners, Arrotta says. The Midway Nissan website has been taken down, although Midway Automotive has retained the phone number.

Arrotta says the Midway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership employs about 30 people, including his three sons and most of the former Midway Nissan employees. Eight former Midway Nissan employees chose to stay on with the Findlay dealership, he says.

An online job posting says Findlay Nissan Post Falls is hiring staff to fill an unspecified number of full-time sales positions. The posting also says Findlay intends to acquire more auto franchises in the Inland Northwest.

Midway nearly has completed an expansion and remodel project at its Alberta Street facility.

"We added eight service bays onto the Chrysler building, enclosed a heated service lane, and remodeled the inside of the store," Arrotta says.

The project also includes a 4,600-square-foot basement addition where it will increase its stock of parts, he says. The addition gives the dealership a total of 22,000 square feet of showroom, service, and parts space.

With the acquisition of the Dodge lines, total sales at the Chrysler-brand dealership are up so far this year by around 70 percent, compared to the year-earlier period, Arrotta says, adding that trucks and sport-utility vehicles are the sales leaders.

Midway opened the Nissan dealership in Post Falls in 2000 and the Chrysler dealership there in 2002. Midway bought Select Subaru, also in the I-90 Autoplex, at 811 N. Greens Ferry, in 2005. It sold that franchise last year to Coeur d'Alene-based Parker Automotive Inc.

Arrotta had owned the Spokane Chrysler Inc. dealership in Spokane Valley for five years until selling it in 2003.

Findlay operates more than 25 dealerships in four western states. They include Findlay Mazda and Findlay Hyundai of Idaho dealerships, which occupy a 3.5-acre site at 1665 E. Edmonton, just west of the Midway complex.

The company opened the Findlay Hyundai of Idaho dealership with a new 18,000-square-foot showroom and service facility in 2007, and it acquired the former Team Mazda of Coeur d'Alene, moving it to Post Falls last year.

Findlay handles 19 auto brands corporatewide, with the Post Falls acquisition becoming its first Nissan dealership, the company's website says.