A Dallas-based developer bought a former restaurant supply store in Allentown for $1.5 million and plans to renovate it into an auto body repair and paint shop.

The auto industry has seen a lot of changes in technology as vehicles become more advanced, safer, and fuel-efficient. And it’s an industry that’s not without its challenges – from finding new skilled mechanics to adapting to changing consumer tastes, such as ride-share services and the nascent model of consumers buying cars from online businesses.

Several Lehigh Valley auto dealerships are collaborating with a Philadelphia-area technical school to create an early employment program.