A genesis—or new beginning—is under way for Genesis of Naples. The local franchise plans to break ground this summer on a new and expanded luxury auto dealership in North Naples.
Tim and Sheila Zellers, longtime owners of Tamiami Ford, Tamiami Hyundai and Genesis of Naples, are building a new two-story home for their Genesis dealership on 10.5 acres of property they own at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Interstate 75. Its completion targeted for late 2025 will allow Genesis to have a larger standalone dealership and relocate from the space it shares at 6780 Airport-Pulling Road in North Naples with Tamiami Hyundai, which will then be able to be fully renovated and expanded at its current site. The Genesis brand is a luxury vehicle division of Hyundai Motor Group that was introduced in 2008.
The new more than 32,000-square-foot Genesis dealership will allow the Zellers to increase their service bays, parts availability and a selection of vehicles in a stunning modern setting.
“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. “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.”
Zoning for the project was unanimously approved in March by the Collier County Commission. The Zellers anticipate starting construction in July and opening the new location in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“This facility is just really upscale and so different. I think it’s a good thing to see. It’s a gorgeous facility,” Zellers said.
While the dealership’s administrative offices will be on the building’s second floor, the first floor will have a selection of new and pre-owned vehicles on display, an expanded service center and an electric vehicle charging station with six rapid chargers that will be open to the public via credit card or ChargePoint.
The Zellers family, which includes Florida natives Tim and Sheila Zellers’ daughter, Joy Zellers-Rautenkranz, and son A.J. Zellers, has been involved in local automobile sales for more than 50 years—since Arlie Zellers launched Tamiami Ford in 1973. Today, the Zellers represent one of the last privately owned auto dealerships in Southwest Florida.
Between their three dealerships, the family employs more than 300 in Collier County with annual new and preowned sales surpassing 5,000 vehicles. The planned expansion to the highly visible northwest corner of Pine Ridge Road and I-75 will allow the local business to hire more people and sell and service more vehicles.
The Zellers acquired the local 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.
