BMW Seattle
1002 Airport Way S. Seattle, WA 98134Sales: (866) 681-8757
- Service: (866) 219-7646
- Parts: 800-782-8780
BMW Seattle makes a bold re-commitment to its customers and downtown Seattle with the opening this week of its new 300,000-square-foot flagship store and service center at 1002 Airport Way South.
At a time when many dealerships are closing or consolidating throughout the city and region, the new location-easily accessed between SODO and the International District-- represents a state-of-the-art automotive showcase.
The sparkling new facility features a sweeping, gallery-like new car showroom and sales center spanning nearly 50,000-square-feet on two levels. Just as impressive is the adjacent service and parts center-a five-floor, 250,000-square-foot structure with 54 service and diagnostic bays, a parts center mezzanine, and vehicle storage and parking for over 850 vehicles.
The new dealership replaces BMW Seattle's long-time location at 714 East Pike.
"We have experienced tremendous growth in recent years at our BMW Seattle store," said Sid DeBoer, chairman and CEO of Medford-based Lithia Motors, owner of the dealership. "We simply outgrew the Capitol Hill location. While we're extremely proud of our reinvestment in Seattle with this new facility, the real winners will be our customers."
DeBoer said that unlike the old location, the new store provides ample parking for sales and service customers. For added convenience, the mammoth service center includes a three-lane covered entry, with an adjacent row of consultation offices where service advisors greet customers upon arrival.
The size of the new facility has also allowed the dealership to assemble its new and used car inventory "under one roof. " In the past autos, both new and previously owned, had been stored in warehouse locations scattered throughout the city.
"It was important for us to create a quality sales and service environment reflective of our team's standards and the BMW brand," said BMW Seattle General Manager Steve Bates. "It's a stunning dealership that allows us to properly spotlight our autos and service capabilities."
Bates said that in addition to a wider selection of vehicles, the new location will provide customers with greater flexibility in scheduling their vehicle service and maintenance. To support this, BMW Seattle has hired additional technicians, service advisers and customer service representatives-boosting the total number of employees to 106.
Adding to the care car experience at the dealership will be a complete menu of detailing services, including complementary washes. The facility sports an on-site automated car wash facility utilizing the latest water reclamation systems.
Working with general contractor Foushee & Associates, BMW Seattle and Lithia also sought to make it an environmentally friendly project during construction process and beyond. The store is under consideration for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in the Silver Certification Category. To meet those standards, materials were recycled throughout the construction process, all the wood products installed included recycled wood, high insulation values at perimeter walls, low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants were used throughout, and energy efficient lighting and mechanical systems were installed.
"Obviously, we believe our entire package will be attractive to car buyers and service customers alike," said Bates. "But we also feel very fortunate to be an active participant in one of the nation's most vibrant downtowns and its neighborhoods. That bodes well for our future."