Tesla plans to open a showroom and service center at a former Toys R Us in Florida

Photo byGilfshore Business

It looks like Tesla has big plans for Florida! The electric vehicle giant is planning to breathe new life into the long-vacant Toys R Us building at 8789 S.W. 117th Ave, Kendall, Florida converting it into a brand-new showroom and service center.

The building, which closed its doors back in 2018 when Toys R Us shut down all of its stores, is set to get a major facelift if Tesla gets the green light from Miami-Dade County. The space isn’t small either — it’s a whopping 44,724 square feet! Tesla’s pre-application was recently filed with county officials, and if all goes according to plan, Kendall could soon be home to the latest Tesla hub.

So, what will this new Tesla location look like? The site will feature a showroom where customers can check out about three Tesla vehicles, as well as some of their energy products. Plus, there will be a service center with 31 work bays, a comfy customer lounge, and space for Tesla employees to relax and handle business behind the scenes. Test drives will also be available for potential buyers. In total, there will be 256 parking spots, which includes areas for Tesla's inventory and customer pick-up.

As you might know, Tesla likes to keep things simple when it comes to buying their cars. Most customers order online and pick up their new ride right in the parking lot of Tesla’s showrooms, and this location will be no different.

When it comes to service, Tesla will focus on routine tasks like software updates (you know, the kind of thing you expect from an electric car), tire replacements, balancing, and smaller body repairs like swapping out doors or trunks. Don’t expect to see any major bodywork going on though — that’s not part of the plan for this site.

The old Toys R Us building is still owned by Kimco Realty Corp, a New York-based real estate company, and it would lease the space to Tesla if all the approvals go through. But before the transformation can begin, Tesla needs permission from the county to carry out their plans — specifically to allow for auto sales and light repair work on the property.

This isn’t Tesla’s first move in South Florida, of course. They already have a showroom at Dadeland Mall and another combined showroom and service center in Coral Gables. In fact, Florida is second only to California when it comes to electric vehicle registrations, with Tesla leading the charge as the biggest EV seller in the country. Their Miami Gardens location even snagged the No. 1 spot on the Business Journal’s list of largest auto dealerships in South Florida.

Tesla’s been on a roll when it comes to expanding in the region. In 2023, the company received approval for a service and sales center in Doral, though it hasn’t opened just yet. Earlier this year, Pembroke Pines gave the go-ahead for a Tesla showroom at the Shops at Pembroke Gardens. And word is, Tesla might even be working on a huge EV repair facility near West Palm Beach, which would handle more extensive bodywork.

So, Kendall residents, it looks like you could soon have a sleek new Tesla showroom just around the corner. What do you think? Is Kendall ready for the future of electric cars? Keep an eye out — this is one project that could drive some serious buzz!