Genesis of Naples to break ground on automobile dealership

Genesis of Naples, one of the top five volume Genesis franchises in the continental United States, announced it has acquired property and has been approved to break ground this summer on a new and expanded automobile dealership for the luxury vehicle brand.

Located on 10.5 acres at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Interstate 75, the new Genesis of Naples will be convenient not only to shoppers throughout Naples, but also Bonita Springs, Estero and the east coast of Florida. The 30,000-square-foot dealership will join a growing number of new standalone locations being built in the U.S., offering service, parts and a premium selection of vehicles.

“This two-story building embodies the largest Genesis prototype in the country and will reflect all the design aspects required of new Genesis dealerships both inside and out, including an open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows,” said Tim Zellers, owner of Genesis of Naples. “With this additional space, we will be able to take better care of our existing customers as well as those new to the Genesis brand.”

The project zoning was unanimously approved in March by the Board of Collier County Commissioners. It is anticipated that ground will be broken in July with completion coming in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The first floor of the building will be dedicated to sales with a selection of new and preowned vehicles on display, while the second floor will house administrative offices. There also will be an expanded service center and an EV charging station with six rapid chargers that will be open to the public via credit card or ChargePoint. It is anticipated the number of employees will grow to 50 when the location opens.

The Genesis brand is a luxury vehicle division of Hyundai Motor Group that was introduced in 2008. The new showroom will replace the current Genesis of Naples location at 6780 Airport-Pulling Rd. N., next to the family’s Hyundai dealership. After Genesis moves, Hyundai will be fully renovated and expanded.

The Zellers family also owns Tamiami Ford at 1471 Airport-Pulling Rd. N. The Tamiami dealership brand has been a force in Naples since Arlie Zellers launched Tamiami Ford in 1973. Today, the Zellers family – Robert and Sheila Zellers, daughter Joy Zellers-Rautenkranz, and son A.J. Zellers – represent one of the last privately owned auto dealerships in Southwest Florida. Between the three dealerships, the family employs nearly 300 in Collier County with annual new and preowned sales surpassing 5,000 vehicles.

The Zellers acquired the existing Hyundai dealership from the O’Brien organization in 2008, just after the first Genesis model was introduced as Hyundai’s luxury counterpart. Genesis of Naples was born in 2017 as part of Hyundai’s rebranding, establishing Genesis as an independent premier division. Today, the growth of the Genesis brand requires its own showroom, service and maintenance department.