On June 17, 2026, Carolina Cat officially opened its new Gastonia branch at 108 Archie Whitesides Rd., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking another investment in its western North Carolina footprint during the company's 100th year of operations in the state.
The new 35,000-sq.-ft. facility will serve as a full-service branch offering compact and heavy equipment sales, service, parts and rental solutions.
Amanda Weisiger Cornelson, 4th generation president, said the project represented years of planning and collaboration among multiple teams and partners.
"It's been nearly 10 years since we've truly built a facility from the ground up like this," Cornelson said. "It's been very special to see this one come to life, and I know it's been a labor of love for a lot of people."
The project involved contributions from branch personnel, real estate and facilities teams, design and construction partners and Caterpillar representatives.
"These projects do not come together overnight. They require a lot of hard work," Cornelson said. "Great partnerships came together to make this happen."
The Gastonia opening also coincides with a milestone year for the dealership.
"This is our 100th year doing business in the state of North Carolina," Cornelson said. "We are very excited to double down on our investment and commitment to this great state through this facility and, of course, to the Gastonia market as well, which continues to grow."
"We are very proud to continue to support our customers who are building roads and schools and hospitals and truly moving and shaping the community here," Cornelson said. "We're honored to play a role in partnering with them."
Company leaders said the branch was designed to strengthen customer support, create new career opportunities and expand the dealership's presence in a growing market.
The new facility features 13 service bays, including six bays on each side of the shop and one center bay. The facility is equipped with 42-ft.-long service bays, 18- by 18-ft. bay doors and four 5-ton bridge cranes designed to handle a wide range of equipment repairs and maintenance work.
Visitors entering the branch will find a retail-focused lobby displaying compact equipment and attachments.
"This has been an exciting project for us over the past 18 months," said Mike Tropsha, executive vice president of Carolina Cat. "We're really excited to be part of the Gastonia community, supporting our customers here, creating career opportunities for our employees and reinvesting back into the communities in which we work and live."
Tropsha said Carolina Cat views the Gastonia location as a full-service heavy equipment branch that also will emphasize compact equipment sales and support.
"We're focused on the retail experience and the retail customer in addition to what we've done for generations," Tropsha said. "This facility provides a modern, safe, bright and expansive place for our teams to do what they do best safely and efficiently."
He said the new branch serves as a visible reminder of the collaboration among Carolina Cat employees, Caterpillar representatives and development partners that brought the project to completion.
For more information, visit carolinacat.com/construction. CEG
