Watertown's F.X. Caprara Kia dealership moves across the street

Nov. 15—WATERTOWN — The F.X. Caprara Kia dealership on Route 11 in Watertown Center recently made a big move — just across the street.

For years, the Kia dealership, one of the many dealerships that brothers Billy and Charlie Caprara own in the north country, moved into a more modern building with a larger showroom and more bays than the old location.

"It's a breath of fresh air," general manager Brad Charlton said. "It's a big move for us. It's a bigger, better building."

With the move, he's been able to add another technician at the new building.

It made sense to move into the building that most recently housed the Runningboards Marketing company.

The Capraras own the building at 19138 Route 11. Charlie Caprara acquired it in 2016 with the idea of renovating the former Rapp dealership building and selling high-end, exotic pre-owned cars out of the location.

But those plans took a detour and Caprara shifted gears, opening and focusing on the Honda dealership on Route 12.

Since Runningboards moved out, the building has sat vacant.

It originally housed Bill Rapp Pontiac and became a neighborhood eyesore before the Caprara family bought it.

The old location, originally a Saturn dealership, is now empty. The current owners have the building on the market.

In Jefferson County, the Caprara family operates F.X. Caprara Honda of Watertown, F.X. Caprara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Alexandria Bay and F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson in Adams Center.

In the past couple of years, the Caprara family ventured into St. Lawrence County with the acquisition of Parkway Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Canton and Parkway Ford in Ogdensburg, now operated as F.X. Caprara Ford.