One of the top Nissan dealerships in Montana has carved out its niche on U.S. 2 East in Evergreen alongside a sister business that offers both boats and vehicles.

Green Nissan and Mountain Auto & Marine were paired up in two separate business acquisitions. The Green family — Larry Green and his son, Rob — purchased North Country Auto & Marine three years ago and soon after renamed the business Mountain Auto & Marine.

In July 2010 the Green family, which owns several other auto dealerships in Idaho, Arizona and California, bought the Nissan franchise from Glacier Motors in Evergreen and relocated it alongside Mountain Auto & Marine. The result, said general manager Larry Symmes, is a wide selection of both new and used boats and vehicles.

Symmes said he has seen an encouraging increase in business over the past several months, and credits the upswing to a local economy that appears to be finally finding its way out of the recession.

“The last six months it’s a whole different ballgame,” Symmes said. “One of the things helping is credit loosening up. We went through a couple of years when [bank financing] was pretty tight, so now there’s a pent-up demand.”

Green Nissan is happy to oblige customers with one of the largest Nissan inventories in the state, sales manager Jamie Creasey said, noting 70 new vehicles and 80 used models currently on the lot.

The Nissan Juke, an all-wheel drive turbo crossover, is pre-sold out until April.

“The styling and price points are amazing,” Creasey said. “Juke owners are some of our happiest customers.”

At around $25,000 with a navigation system, it’s a good value, he added. The Nissan Rogue has been another good seller because of its fuel economy.

“Nissan has its niche on quality, and excitement and quality are built in,” Creasey said. “They have a good resell value, with durability and low maintenance.”

Symmes said Canadians are buying both vehicles and boats because of the money they can save purchasing in the United States. Canadians can save $10,000 to $15,000 on higher-end vehicle models, and about half of the used boats sold go to Canadians.

On the boat side, the dealership sells the popular Sea Ray sports boats, ranging from 17 feet to 35-foot cruisers. Tige wakeboard boats, Crest-liner fishing boats and Manitou pontoon boats “that do 52 miles an hour” are among their best sellers, Symmes said.

“We match up the customer’s wants and needs and tailor it to their budget,” he said. “Where we have a big advantage is we buy used boats in the off-season and recondition them. That’s a huge plus for us.”

The result is 25 to 30 used boats on the lot. And by providing detailed information about a used boat’s history and how it’s been reconditioned, it gives the customer peace of mind. It’s all about “being straight and upfront with people,” Symmes said.

Creasey said both the car and boat dealerships are drawing people from throughout the region because of their competitive pricing. An experienced sales and mechanic staff also are important elements for a successful dealership, he said. The businesses employ 28 people with a ramp up during the summer season.

A fireplace in the showroom helps the ambiance for customers, too.

“When you’re growing a new dealership, you want people to have a good experience,” he said.

Green Nissan, online at green-nissan.com, and Mountain Auto & Marine, at www.mtautomarineboats.com, are located at 2505 U.S. 2 E.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.