Mercedes of Delray Beach officially opens with a flare

Mercedes Benz of Delray Beach General Manager Ralph Mesa uses the Delray Chamber's oversized ceremonial scissors to officially cut the ribbon on the new dealership. To his right is Michael Maroone, chief operating officer of AutoNation. Also participating in the event, from left: Bill Wood, president of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce; Mackenson Bernard, a Delray Beach city commissioner, Adam Frankel and Gary Eliopoulos, both members of the Delray Beach City Commission.

Mercedes Benz of Delray Beach General Manager Ralph Mesa uses the Delray Chamber's oversized ceremonial scissors to officially cut the ribbon on the new dealership. To his right is Michael Maroone, chief operating officer of AutoNation. Also participating in the event, from left: Bill Wood, president of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce; Mackenson Bernard, a Delray Beach city commissioner, Adam Frankel and Gary Eliopoulos, both members of the Delray Beach City Commission. Not seen in the picture: Mayor Woodie McDuffie.

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Recession? No evidence of that Friday night, at least in one small corner of the city.

For the more than 600 customers, Delray Chamber members, city officials and others who attended the grand opening of Mercedes Benz of Delray, it was like being in a bubble. High unemployment numbers, sagging consumer confidence, foreclosures and the bankruptcies of two major car companies were outside somewhere, but not there, not inside the new show room on Linton Avenue.

“This is just gorgeous,” Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce President Bill Wood said of the new dealership. “Some have said the auto industry is in trouble. Not at Mercedes Benz of Delray Beach. They didn’t get that memo.”

Mercedes Benz of Delray is owned by AutoNation, the Fort Lauderdale company that has felt the tough times in the auto industry. It’s lost both Chrysler and GM dealerships this summer as the two bankrupt auto giants consolidated retail operations.

The new Delray dealership, however, fits AutoNation’s corporate strategy of shifting its “brand mix more towards import and premium luxury franchises.”

people

Delray City Commissioner Mackenson Bernard talks with Michael Maroone, Also pictured: dealership GM Ralph Mesa and Delray Mayor Woodie McDuffie.

The Mercedes dealership unveiled the 2010 E Class coupe and sedan. Those on hand for the event had a chance to get a feel for the car's interior.

The Mercedes dealership unveiled the 2010 E Class coupe and sedan. Those on hand for the event had a chance to get a feel for the car's interior.

On hand for Friday’s grand opening was Michael Maroone, AutoNation’s chief operating officer, who took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Delray Mayor Woodie McDuffie, city commissioners Adam Frankel, Gary Eliopoulos and Mackenson Bernard and Delray Chamber President Wood, and dealership General Manager Ralph Mesa.

The new dealership, which includes a separate air conditioned, computerized maintenance building, opened in October.

“It’s been a huge success,” Mesa told the gathering. “Along the way, we’ve made good friends and good partners.”

McDuffie noted that the economy is probably worst “in our life times,” which made the dealership’s presence in Delray Beach all the more important.

The grand opening had the feel of a gala, with live music outside, hostesses in gowns, wine and oxygen bars, plenty of food and a circulating wait staff. The dealership’s elegant (and pricey) inventory added to the atmosphere. A silent auction conducted during the evening raised $7,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The dealership also used the event to unveil the 2010 Class E coupe and sedan. There were no test drives, but there was plenty of opportunity for ogling the cars and getting a feel for the interiors. The Class E starts at $53,100.

AutoNation operates four other dealerships in Delray Beach — Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford and Volvo, all under the Maroone flag.

 

effective affordable advertising the outlook
Office Depot, Inc
Click Here For The Wall Street Journal
DELRAY'S ONLINE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER — PALM BEACH BUSINESS.COM
   
palm beach business.com
JULY 12 , 2009 click to go home
 
     
click to go back to the top
Delray's Online Business and Community Newspaper