Local Enterprise headquarters to move

Kansas City Star, Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is building a new regional headquarters north of downtown Merriam and plans to consolidate about 100 local sales and administrative employees there.

The 23,000 square-foot building now under construction on Merriam Drive will replace the facility at 7815 Floyd St. in Overland Park, which has been the firm's local headquarters since 1972.

“We outgrew it a number of years ago and started spinning off a number of operations," said Tony McKinnis, general manager for Enterprise in Kansas City.  “This is an opportunity to bring everybody under one roof it will help immensely, both in growth and containing costs."

McKinnis declined to provide a price estimate for the project, but Merriam officials estimated the value of the building alone at $3 million.  The project is receiving no tax incentives or subsidies from the city.

The new headquarters is scheduled to open in September.  The site near Interstate 35 already was owned by Enterprise and was being used as a distribution point for buying and selling new vehicles.

“The city is really excited about this project," said Dennis Enslinger, Merriam community development director.

"It fits the comprehensive plan about what’s happening on Merriam Drive; making the transition from industrial uses to more commercial uses."

The architect is Berger Devine Yaeger, Inc. and the contractor is Haren & Laughlin Construction Co.  Kirk Sherman of Zimmer Real Estate Services represented Enterprise in the transaction.

Architect Mike Gillaspie said the two-story brick and stucco building was designed to streamline internal operations and improve the environment for employees.

Enterprise, the largest rental car company in North America, has 50 rental stores in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

It also has a long-term vehicle leasing operation and four car sales locations.