Colonial corridor big for car shoppers

Fort Myers Toyota is the eighth-ranked Toyota dealer in the U.S.

Back in the late-1990s, Fort Myers Toyota had to make a decision.

Move its dealership from its aging Fowler Street building to U.S. 41 along with most of the other Fort Myers car dealers, or find a better spot.

John Marazzi, the firm's general manager, had an eye on a vacant parcel at the corner of Colonial Boulevard and Fowler Street.

To test the waters, he rented part of the property and had a tent sale.

"We had the biggest selling week in our history," he said. "And the light bulb went off in my head."

That was in 1999. Today, Fort Myers Toyota occupies 21 acres at that corner and has transformed itself into the eighth largest Toyota dealer in the country.

Soon to open is a 175,000 square foot new truck sales facility that Pamela Templeton, Fort Myers Toyota's treasurer, said would handle all sales and services of the company's truck line, including the wildly popular Tundra model.

"We're one of the first dealers in the country to build a stand-alone truck center," Templeton said.

The lobby and sales floor of the new truck center at Fort Myers Toyota.

Toyota's success and the easy access to Cape Coral via the Midpoint Memorial Bridge, I-75 and U.S. 41 has attracted other car dealers.

The O'Brien Automotive Team, a dealer in Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Subaru models along with used cars, recently moved into new digs just up the street from Toyota.

General Manager Gary Matern said it was a logical move.

"Location, location, location," Matern said. "It's centrally located - it's near I-75, U.S. 41 and Cape Coral. It's hugely accessible to the population."

O'Brien services customers from Naples to Charlotte County, which made the easy access to the interstate essential, Matern said.

Directly across from the Toyota store, a new showroom and shop is under construction for Volvo of Fort Myers.

It's the first local Volvo dealership since Fort Myers and Naples dealers merged into one Bonita Springs dealership.

The new facility, with 36,000 square feet on a six-acre site, is set to open Memorial Day weekend.

Colonial Suzuki sells only Suzuki's at its Colonial Boulevard store.

The Colonial Suzuki new showroom is just west of Colonial-Fowler interchange on three acres. The dealership has been part of the Galloway Automotive Group since 1992 and sells only Suzukis.

Commercial real estate broker Paul Sands of the Sands Commercial Group said the success of dealers such as Toyota and O'Brien lures others.

"Action gets action," he said.

Auto dealers also have very tight zoning restrictions that limit their real estate options and Colonial Boulevard fits that bill, Sands said.

It's worked for Fort Myers Toyota. Besides being at top U.S. retailer, its used car division, across from the new car dealership, has set national sales records. In July, it sold 719 cars, making it the top used car dealer in the country.

And with Toyota's new truck center, it's primed for a jump from number 8 in the company in sales nationwide.

"We now have the capacity to move up to number three," Marazzi said. ¦

Volvo of Fort Myers is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend. The O'Brien Automotive Team occupies one of Fort Myers' most modern dealerships.