AMHERST – A car show with a difference is certain to pay dividends for the Amherst Artisan Gallery and the Cumberland County Hospice Palliative Care Society.
The car show is in its second week at the Amherst Centre mall with 55 vehicles from four Amherst dealerships participating, including Amherst Toyota, Cumberland Honda, Tantramar Chevrolet GMC Ltd. and Taylor Ford.
“So far it has exceeded our expectations,” John Warner of the Artisan gallery said Tuesday. “We had more than 400 people in here last weekend and we’ve been averaging between 40 and 60 each day this week.”
Warner said the Amherst Centre management has been more than cooperative with the initiative, allowing the gallery to use the space formerly occupied by Zellers. Warner said other mall stores have also supported the car show by donating items for a draw while, he said, mall ownership has continued to support what the gallery has done since moving into the facility a couple of years ago.
The show, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, concludes March 15.
Representatives from each of the four dealerships are on hand daily to answer questions about their vehicles and Warner said there have been some sales with the deadlerships saying they plan to return year.
“We’re hoping to be able to grow the event next year. There’s plenty of space to add more dealerships and more vehicles,” Warner said.
A highlight of the show are a pair of Saturday concerts featuring Gerry Metz and Friends and RA Lautenschlauger and Jack Hudson.
There’s also a golf putting contest, 50/50 draws and a free draw for a basket of goods donated by mall merchants.
