The first Lamborghini dealership in the St. Louis area and the 100th store worldwide for the Italian auto maker opens this month in Chesterfield, MO.
The $3.8 million facility, being built by ARCO Construction Co., will showcase the high-performance super sports cars with prices that can approach half a million dollars.
Entrepreneurs J.J. Mills and Graham Hill of St. Louis Motorsports are partnering to open the dealership, which has a capacity for two additional luxury auto franchises.
“Geographically, it makes sense for us to bring Lamborghini to St. Louis,” Mills says. “With the closest dealer in Chicago or Dallas, we believe there's sufficient demand in the heartland to offer our customers even more convenience with a St. Louis location.”
Lamborghinis cost between $190,000 and $400,000. A waiting list currently exists for some of the most popular models, including the $360,000 Murcielago LP640, Mills says.
The new dealership will be adjacent to a 25,000-sq.-ft. (7,620-sq.-m) Bentley and Maserati dealership that Mills and Hill run on Highway 40.
ACI/Boland Inc. designed the distinctive 22,000-sq.-ft. (6,705-sq.-m) Lamborghini store.
Surrounding the showroom, a glass curtain wall will envelope the luxury automobiles on display. Designed as a glimmering “jewel box,” the showroom will offer enhanced visibility from the highway and will abut a raised catwalk platform that can hold up to four automobiles.
The sales center entrance will be marked by a stone pillared porte cache. A fountain with inlayed stone will adorn a motor court that unites the Lamborghini dealership with the Bentley and Maserati outlets.
“The courtyard, exterior automobile display areas and fountain were conceptualized by Mills and Hill to complement each dealership and to help define the ultimate luxury automobile destination in the Midwest,” says Hank Bellina, director of major accounts at ARCO.
Inside, the showroom will be ornamented with slate “graniti fiandre” floors. Amenities for patrons include a coffee and cappuccino bar, plasma TV and a sitting area where they can customize finishes and review car specifications. Additional interior elements include a pre-owned exotic automobile inventory room, an authentic Lamborghini boutique, two internal car washes and an automobile photo-booth area.
“The design and finish of the facility not only fits the corporate identity of Lamborghini, but incorporates subtle features and finishes of the Bentley/Maserati building to tie the two dealerships together,” Bellina says.
And, he adds, there's room to sell other exotic lines of cars within either building.
Two additional showrooms within the Lamborghini facility make up more than 2,500 sq. ft. (762 m) of showroom space for future luxury and exotic car dealerships.
