Coughlin Automotive purchases former Mathews Ford dealership in Heath

Kent Mallett, Newark Advocate January 10, 2022

Coughlin Automotive announced the opening of its 14th location at 500 Hebron Road, in Heath, the former Mathews Ford dealership.

The business is Coughlin’s third Ford dealership and will be known as Coughlin Ford of Heath.

Coughlin, Licking County’s largest automotive dealer, said the expansion of its product line and continued investment will help it meet the growing automotive needs of central Ohio, Licking County, and surrounding areas.

The company has been in business in Licking County community for more than 30 years.

“The Ford dealership in Heath has long been a staple in Licking County, and we are excited to add it to the Coughlin Automotive group of dealerships,” Coughlin co-owner Al Coughlin said.

Co-owner Mike Coughlin said, “Customers will continue to receive the high level of service they have come to expect from all of our dealerships.”

Mathews Ford completed a $2 million expansion in 2015, increasing the size of the showroom, adding sales personnel and expanding the service and repair area.

Coughlin also operates Toyota, Hyundai and Nissan dealerships in Heath, General Motors and Kia dealerships in Newark, Chevrolet and Ford in Pataskala, GM and Kia in Chillicothe, Chrysler and GM in Marysville, and Ford and GM in Circleville.

Coughlin, John Hinderer and Huber Nissan have all expanded in Heath in the last decade.

John Hinderer Honda, also in business more than 30 years, purchased the Tri-County Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram at 1290 Hebron Road, as well as the Muddy Creek Saloon and A Plus Auto Brokers in 2020. Hinderer also purchased property next to their powerstore on Hebron Road to expand that store in 2019.

Tri-County had been in business more than 40 years.

Huber Nissan expanded to the former Clark Motor Company property following its closing in about 2014. Three brothers who were general partners with Clark Motor Company pled guilty to bank fraud and money laundering, and were sued by then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.