Not too long ago we saw one of the worst financial implosion in history and it affected the automotive world in a huge way. With many automakers looking for a way to get out from under a ton of red tape and begin to create the models that would carry them forward, there were several brands that were cut from the market. This was the scene in 2008 and during the time of this financial disaster our own Big Three automakers had to cut out some of their brand names and models in order to show the US Government that they deserved to be bailed out of their own mess and were and integral part of the economic survival of this country.

Thankfully the US Government agreed and although the Big Three had to cut brand names from their collection; GM lost Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Saturn; Ford lost Mercury and Chrysler lost Plymouth, the government agreed and bailed them out. Unfortunately, smaller market brands and some of the dealerships that used to deal in these brands had to be shut down, which left many empty and abandoned structures all over the country that were perfect for different purposes.

Since this time these once proud dealership locations have been reinvigorated into fitness clubs, dry docks, tow lots, churches, supermarkets, flea markets and one has even been turned into a Sheriff’s department do training facility. With lots of wide open space to use and an open showroom and service bays it’s easy to see how these buildings can be useful and provide a great place for many different functions.

One dealership, DaBrescia Motors in Hancock, New York, had a different fate. This dealership has been turned into a place where you can view artwork from some of the local talent and come for a bite to eat.

Gavin Brown is a well-known art dealer in New York and has been at the helm of many artist launches to help local talent get noticed. He currently has two galleries in New York City and a home in Hancock where he found this dealership location which has been turned into a great place to view some of the local creations of artists he’s discovered and grab a bite to eat. With the installation of a full commercial kitchen in the showroom and the open door on more pleasant evenings he’s turned this recently abandoned car dealership into a place where people can gather and enjoy themselves.

Brown has found a way to blend the old with the new, leaving much of what the dealership left behind, even turning some of the old tires into sculptures as a fitting tribute while the kitchen is being operated by Thai food artists Rirkirt Tiravanija who is one of the chefs represented by Brown and another resident of the Hancock area. With some great food, impressive artwork and a unique location Gavin Brown has found a new way to reuse one of the many abandoned dealerships around the country, allowing this location to be useful once again.