A local auto dealer is packing up the car and moving their showroom across the street.

Work began this week to clear ground at the corner of Highland Avenue and Marie Foster Street for the new location of Moore-Stewart Honda, placing the dealership next to the Moore-Stewart Ford dealership.

Todd Stewart said the move, which should be completed by February, has long been in the works.

“We have been wanting to do this since we opened the dealership over there about 14 years ago,” Stewart said. “We don’t own the land or building over there at the current lot, so we have worked hard to bring everything across the road.”

The property where the new dealership will stand had previously served as the used car lot for the neighboring Ford dealership.

“This will help us work more smoothly,” Stewart said. “Having everything on one lot will help us better serve our customers. And it’s going to be a completely different layout in the new showroom. It’s going to be really nice.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday to commemorate the dealership’s investment in the community.

Selma Mayor George Evans attended the ceremony, joining nearly two dozen local business and civic leaders to show his support for the project.

“It’s an ideal location, and this corner can be a sign to people coming into town that things are moving forward,” Evans said. “They are building for the future here. They know there is potential for growth and new life in our city.”

Evans was quick to point out that Moore-Stewart is not the only business that has made investments in the properties at the busy intersection. Earlier this year, he noted, a new, modern Wendy’s restaurant was built across the street.

“People at both of these businesses have obviously done their homework and they know that things have gotten better around town,” Evans said. “It’s great to see this dealership expanding and moving everything over on this side of the highway. This is a great corner lot, and their investment will change the look of this corner.”