Legal dispute brewing in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A legal battle is brewing between Easthampton's Cernak Buick and Stop & Shop.

Plans to develop the land across the street from the dealership came to light in 2004.

Ken Cernak's family has owned the Northampton Street dealership since 1938. Cernak told 22News, John Courtney, one of the owners of the property where the Stop & Shop is to be located brought Cernak a set of plans in 2004.

The plans specified the location, and the construction of a new stop light in between Burger King and his dealership.

But in 2006, the light was relocated in front of a paper street called Mountainview and Cernak says that will hurt his business.

“That would mean that people would have to go all the way around to the back of our building in order to get to our showroom and many would have to leave to go around to the back of the building in order to leave Cernak Buick,” Cernak told 22news.

Cernak says Stop and & Shop is unwilling to change the location of the traffic light, and that could have a detrimental impact on his business by making it difficult for customers to get in and out of the dealership.

Cernak has filed a lawsuit against Stop and & Shop and the city of Easthampton, a suit he says is expected to go to trial. 22News spoke with Stop & Shop and representatives refused to comment.