Construction is officially underway on a new Genesis of Naples dealership near the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Interstate 75, marking a major milestone for the Zellers family and the growing luxury automotive brand in Southwest Florida. Work on the 12-acre campus began in early January, with the facility expected to open in early 2027.
The dealership remains privately owned and operated by Tim Zellers, who has led Genesis of Naples since 2018. For the family and their longtime staff, the groundbreaking represents years of persistence following regulatory hurdles and site-access complications.
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“This moment carries tremendous emotion for all of us,” said Tim Zellers, owner of Genesis of Naples. “We believed in this project with our whole hearts, even when the path felt uncertain and the obstacles seemed endless. What pushed us forward was our responsibility: to our family business, our customers, and a community that has trusted us for generations. They deserve this facility, and we refused to let setbacks stop us.”
Once completed, the campus will feature more than 30,000 square feet devoted exclusively to Genesis sales, service and customer amenities, making it one of the first standalone locations of its kind in the global Genesis network. The dealership will serve buyers across Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and Florida’s east coast, offering a dedicated luxury environment separate from the family’s Hyundai operations.
The project was originally slated to begin in early 2025 but encountered lengthy delays tied to coordination around a longstanding roadway easement adjacent to the property.
“There were days when progress felt painfully slow,” Zellers said. “We entered countless conversations, explored every possible compromise, and fought for every inch of movement. And even when a mutual agreement couldn’t be reached with a neighboring property owner, we pressed forward — leaning on the permitting process, leaning on perseverance, leaning on prayer, and leaning on friends who reminded us to keep going. And we did.”
More than 5,000 Genesis owners in the region were affected by the postponed timeline, according to the dealership. Zellers credited those customers for helping sustain momentum.
“Our customers showed remarkable patience and grace,” Zellers said. “Their encouragement, loyalty, and belief in what we’re building gave us strength. They reminded us why we were fighting so hard. They are the heartbeat of this project — and they are absolutely worth every moment of the wait.”
During construction, Genesis operations will continue from the renovated location adjacent to Tamiami Hyundai at 6780 Airport-Pulling Rd. N. An expanded Genesis-dedicated staff will support sales and service until the new facility opens.
The new dealership will include a dedicated showroom, service center and maintenance department, replacing the current shared space. Zellers described the project as a legacy investment rather than a routine commercial build.
“This project is not just metal, concrete and glass,” Zellers concluded. “It’s a testament to grit. To faith. To the unshakeable belief that doing the right thing — even when it’s hard — always leads somewhere extraordinary. We are building more than a dealership. We are building a legacy, a promise, and a new chapter for Genesis in Naples. We cannot wait to welcome everyone into this new home soon.”
Genesis of Naples has ranked among the top five volume Genesis franchises in the continental United States and is one of the few retailers to earn the brand’s Circle of Prestige Award for excellence in sales, service and guest experience from 2020 through 2023.
The Genesis brand is the luxury vehicle division of Hyundai Motor Group, introduced in 2008. The Zellers family has been a fixture in Collier County’s auto industry since Arlie Zellers launched Tamiami Ford in 1973. Today, Robert and Sheila Zellers, along with daughter Joy Zellers-Rautenkranz and son A.J. Zellers, operate three dealerships employing nearly 300 people with annual sales exceeding 5,000 vehicles.
Local officials and business leaders view the project as another sign of confidence in the Naples market, where demand for high-end vehicles and premium service experiences continues to expand alongside population growth.
Originally reported by Florida Weekly.
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