The cliche, "Out with the old, in with the new" means good things for Integrity Motors in downtown Ironton.

It may mean a few new jobs as well.

Integrity Motor Vehicles Inc. Jeep dealership, 413 S. Third St., will begin an expansion of its business this week when three old buildings on Adams Street between Third and Fourth streets, often referred to as the Hannon property, are torn down to make room for more lot space.

"This will increase our lot by 50 percent," said Steve Songer, Integrity co-owner along with Gary Chapman, said. "It will probably allow us to get 40 more vehicles on our lot."

Songer said the business is hoping to add five or six full-time employees within the next few months.

"I feel like this is a positive thing for Ironton, as well as us," he said. "There is a lot of derelict property in Ironton that needs to be torn down. Maybe this can be the start."

Rail Construction of Ashland, Ky., will be doing the demolition on the $150,000 project, which includes purchasing the property.

The three buildings extend from Third Street to the alley. Songer said he remembers the buildings in their glory days before they continued to deteriorate.

"I remember going in there as a kid," Songer said. "Mr. Hannon used to repair old radios and TVs."

Overall, Songers said that the expansion was badly needed.

"It was critical," he said. "We were at the point where we could have continued but there was no upside. This allows us to stay in town."