The transfer of a well-established car dealership in Palmerton has gone through in conjunction with a new St. Luke’s health care facility that will be built.

The property transfer is from Terry Eckhart to Palmerton Site LLC, 619 Iron St., Lehighton, properties at 630-636 Delaware Ave.

While he acknowledged the transfer, Eckhart noted that his business, Terry’s Winner Circle, 636, Delaware Ave., is still up and running.

“I’m still going to be here for a year selling cars,” Eckhart said.

Eckhart said that St. Luke’s sought the properties.

“St. Luke’s approached me,” he said. “I wasn’t looking to retire.”

Eckhart said the other tenants, Mountain Karate Academy, and Snyder’s Auto Repair, have until May before they must be out of their current locations.

Eckhart said he started Terry’s Winner Circle about 23 years ago.

In addition to vehicles, Eckhart said he has various memorabilia inside his shop that’s for sale.

He said items range from gas pumps, to sports memorabilia, to soda machines, lunchboxes and more.

Eckhart has owned various businesses in the borough dating back to 1974.

It began with the former Terry’s Music Explosion at its original site, where it remained for about 20 years.

Eckhart then purchased his current building, where he operated a Vacation Video in the front of the building, before moving Terry’s Music Explosion in the back of the building.

This October will mark his 45th year as a business owner in the borough.

Though he will remain in business until May, Eckhart said there are many aspects of being a business owner that he will miss.

“It is kind of hard, because I’m just used to coming to work six days a week,” he said. “That’s going to be the biggest change.”

Eckhart said he’s grateful to all his customers and employees who have been part of the journey.

“I’d like to thank all our customers who have patronized us over the last 45 years at our businesses,” he said. “If it wouldn’t have been for them, we wouldn’t have lasted for 45 years, plus all our employees over the years, who are still personal friends.”

Eckhart said there was one other special person in particular who helped ensure his success.

“I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Judy,” he said. “She was always by my side, and always stood by me.”

St. Luke’s acquisition of the properties ties in with the purchase of the former Haja Lanes building at 614 Delaware Ave.

That property transfer — completed in May — was from James P. Haja to Palmerton Site LLC, 619 Iron St., Lehighton, properties at 614-616, 618-620, and 622-624 Delaware Ave.

Posh Properties, of Bethlehem, purchased the former Haja Lanes building, which has been closed to the public since April 20.

Constructed in 1961, the Haja Lanes building was originally owned by a doctor and an undertaker, before it was purchased by Pencor Services, and Haja then purchased the building from Pencor, and settled on Dec. 31, 1984.

St. Luke’s spokesman Sam Kennedy said the new facility is scheduled to open later this year, and contain “a mix of primary care and specialty services.”