Certified used cars get a bigger spotlight; New-car dealers seek profit in building nearby used-car stores.(Brief Article)

Chris Lemley, president of Sentry Auto Group, thinks his certified used-vehicle customers deserve new-car treatment.

That's why the second-generation Ford dealer is building a 10,000-square-foot certified used-car store next to his Ford dealership in Medford, Mass. Sentry Certified Preowned Center is scheduled to open by April 1.

The store features imported ceramic tile floors with marble accents and a mirrored back wall. The showroom will have eight certified Ford cars and trucks. Customers will take delivery in an area with computer-controlled lights and music that will range from classic rock to jazz.

Lemley said that having a store that sells …