Park Place Motorcars Arlington Grand Opening Celebration

Park Place Dealerships recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Mercedes-Benz dealership at I-20 and Collins in Arlington. The fête attracted more than 750 guests, who also brought hundreds of toys to donate to the Boys & Girls Club of Arlington.

When we opened our first Mercedes-Benz dealership in 1987, we had 128 members (employees),” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “Today, we have more than 2,000 members across 18 dealerships. With the opening of Park Place Motorcars Arlington, our fourth Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Texas, we’ve added another 76 members and expect that number to grow.”

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The University of Texas at Arlington drumline lined the entrance to the new dealership as guests arrived, setting the tempo for a spirited evening.

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The party spread throughout the dealership and on to the service drive as guests mixed and mingled and sampled a variety of scrumptious fare from area restaurants, including Blue Mesa, the Melting Pot, Lombardi’s Taverna, Andalous Mediterranean Grill and Chamas do Brazil.

Libations ranged from classic Hendricks Gin and modern Reyka Solerno martinis to Krombacher beer and Robert Mondavi wines.

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America – Fort Worth Section brought several classic cars to the party, including a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet owned by Cecile & DJ de Jesus, which was prominently displayed in the new car showroom next to a 2016 AMG SL63 Retractable Hardtop Convertible.

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The Jennifer Baldwin Combo entertained guests with soothing jazz in one of the two new car showrooms.

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Guests glammed it up in the photo booth and savored frozen treats by Frost 321.   Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams set the stage for comfortable relaxation with custom seating  in The Star Lounge After-Party, featuring Drambuie cocktails and V-gars along with decadent desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes. DJ Andre had guests dancing into the night to classic hits and soul music.

Park Place Motorcars Arlington features two showrooms designed to showcase 16 new vehicles, a shop with 35 service bays and 10 make ready bays, as well as a beautiful client lounge and a private kids playroom. In 2016, Mercedes-Benz is introducing 10 new vehicles in the U.S.; including a new four-door mid-sized SUV, several new diesel models, a plug-in hybrid C-Class and a sleek new SLK roadster.

For more information about a new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz, please contact:

Richard Wasson, New Car Sales Director at (817) 807-4811; RWasson@10.2.54.33

Joel Moss, Pre-Owned Sales Director at (817) 807-4812; JMoss@10.2.54.33

 

ICE! Experience at Gaylord Texan

Make the ICE! experience at the Gaylord Texan a part of your holiday season with these great savings exclusively for Park Place Lexus owners.

From now through January 3, 2016, experience Christmas Around the World- an international holiday treat brought to life in an interactive world of colorful ice sculptures and 20-foot ice slides carved entirely from 2-million pounds of ice by visiting artisans from Harbin, China.

Valet Parking

Park Place Lexus owners receive a $10 discount on valet parking when you drive your Lexus to ICE!  Self-parking for Lexus drivers is complimentary.

General Admission Ticket Discount

Park Place Lexus owners receive 20% discount* for ICE! tickets by using the promo code PARKPLACELEXUS.  Get your tickets to THE event of the holiday season here.

*Please note the following restrictions on the discount. 

  • Offer is valid for admission from November 12 – December 18.
  • Offer is not valid for Saturday admission.
  • Offer subject to availability, not redeemable for cash & cannot be combined with any other offers

 

Glass Cactus

As a Park Place Lexus owner, you also receive complimentary valet parking for your Lexus at the Glass Cactus, the Gaylord Texan’s exclusive nightclub and live music venue.

Friendly Competition Benefits Tarrant Area Food Bank

Nearly 2-tons of food were donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, thanks to the amazing efforts by the team at Park Place Motorcars FW. When General Manager George Johnson issued a challenge to his team members, they rose to the occasion. And George- well, he had to go shopping!

Two teams competed to see who can collect the most canned goods, and encourage others to do the same. As donations trickled in, George upped the ante: he’ll go out and buy enough canned goods to match all the donations.

That spurred an outpour of donations, with 1,819 food items collected. George was excited to go shopping! He brought in a heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van for the shopping trip.

It was off to the grocery store. Going through the aisles and loading the cart with boxes of canned goods, it looked a lot like the old TV show “Supermarket Sweep.”

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With help from the store associates and Park Place team members, they loaded up the Sprinter van.

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The Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth team delivered over THREE-THOUSAND pounds of food to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. 3,557 pounds or 1.78 tons to be exact.

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$50,000 Cash Left Behind in a Mercedes-Benz

Service technician Juan Ibarra was working on a Mercedes-Benz SL550, that Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth received as a trade-in, when he discovered a bag in the trunk. When he opened the bag he saw stacks of $100 bills.
I jumped back like I’d seen a snake,” said Ibarra. “My first thought was, ‘is this dirty money?’ I immediately took it to my service director. Nobody wanted to touch it. We didn’t even count it.

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Juan has always been a real ‘go-to’ guy,” said George Johnson, General Manager at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth. “He’s a man of the highest integrity. I’m very proud of him.”

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Juan Ibarra with Park Place Motorcars FW General Manager- George Johnson

It never even crossed my mind to take any of the money,” said Ibarra. “We just wanted to find out who the money belonged to and get it back to them.”

It took about a week before the owner was tracked down. Turns out he was a bail bondsman and the cash didn’t exactly belong to him either. The money was given to him for a bond. Needless to say, he was very relieved to get it back.

After counting the money, he confirmed that all $50,000 was accounted for and was thankful someone honest had found it.   “About a month later the guy came back with a nice card and some money in it,” said Ibarra. “The card was enough for me. He was very grateful.”

McIlveen Brings International Flair and Caring Heart to Auto Industry

Mariza McIlveen of Grand Prairie didn’t imagine a career in the automotive industry for herself. She started out in the hospitality industry working for luxury hotels. But she quickly found her passion was for helping people grow in their careers. “I was born and raised in Sri Lanka,” said McIlveen. “I went to high school in Singapore and college in Hawaii. I got into the hospitality field because my Dad was a pilot for Singapore Airlines, and he always pictured his little girl in the hotel business. I worked hotel operations for the first part of my career, and discovered that I enjoyed helping people grow. I would hire front desk agents and mentor them. Watching a few move on to do big things in their career, I decided I wanted to be in Human Resources. It gives me great pleasure to give people the chance to get into a great company and grow.”

during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas on September 27, 2015. (AP Photo/ Michael Ainsworth)

McIlveen started at Park Place Dealerships in 2014, and was recently named Human Resources Manager for the new Park Place Motorcars Arlington, which opened November 2, 2015. “I am a certified HR professional,” continued McIlveen. “My goal each day is to make sure that I have taken care of our members’ (employees) needs, and that I am available to lend a hand or ear. My goal is to create a fun work environment for the new dealership… to help it grow and be recognized for its ‘can do’ attitude.”

When asked what advice she would share with women considering a career in the automotive industry, McIlveen replied, “Everyone at Park Place is very respectful and I have never felt out of place. They’ve been eager to share their knowledge with me. We even have one of the first female Mercedes-Benz parts managers in Texas, and one of a very few in the country. Park Place offers ongoing training for our members to advance.”

Empowering women to succeed in the automotive industry is just one of many intriguing stories you’ll find among the “experts in excellence” at Park Place Motorcars Arlington.

Park Place Lexus Grapevine Takes Service to New Heights

The all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350, sits in an equally brand new, state-of-the-art showroom at Park Place Lexus Grapevine. The newly renovated dealership is getting ready to reveal more exciting renovations this week.

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Our new, expansive service drive is now open!

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The new service drive has 4 lanes to better accommodate our clients, and if you’re stopping-in for a car wash, be sure to pull into the exclusive “Car Wash” lane furthest to the right.

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After you drop off your vehicle, enjoy the newly renovated client lounge with Admiral Club- which includes a kids play room and a TV. Grab a snack, or enjoy a cappuccino from our state-of-the-art coffee machine- that we bet rivals some coffee shops in town.

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While you enjoy the Lexus lounge, your Lexus is also in for a luxurious experience in our brand new, top of the line car wash.

Have errands to run, but your car needs service? Great news! We just expanded our fleet of loan cars, so you won’t miss a beat while our Certified Lexus Technicians work on your car.

Add Park Place Lexus Grapevine to your list of things to experience. We’re excited about our latest renovations, and additions. We invite you to come experience it for yourself.

For more information about a new or pre-owned Lexus, please contact:

Charles Owen, New Car Sales Director at (817) 416-3130; cowen3@10.2.54.33

Juan Puentes, Pre-Owned Sales Director at (817) 416-3308; JPuentes@10.2.54.33

Park Place Tailgating Fun With Southlake-Carroll Dragons

Park Place Lexus and Motorcars Grapevine have been a proud sponsor of the Southlake-Carroll Dragons for 5-years. Carroll High School and the Dragons Football are near and dear to alum Matt Woolsey, Park Place Lexus Grapevine General Manager. We love tailgating with the amazing Dragons fans, and they get in on the fun as well.

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From weekly tailgating party giveaways to theme spirit nights, Park Place has our clients covered in true Southlake-Carroll fashion. From t-shirts to green flashing rings, the Dragon spirit is hard to miss.

Mike Roberts Southlake Carroll winner
Mike Roberts- largest tailgate party winner November 6, 2015

Amy McBride
Amy McBride- largest tailgate party winner November 13, 2015

Fun contests and scratch off tickets provide fun prizes from a free car wash to weekend use of a fun new Lexus or Mercedes-Benz.

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The Dirty Car Contest is always a hit and allows us to engage with the fans. While everyone’s tailgating, we drive around and find the dirtiest vehicle. It is then featured on the big screen during half-time and the owner walks away with a complimentary detail from Park Place Lexus and Motorcars Grapevine.

Don’t miss us at the next Southlake-Carroll game, you could win fun prizes! Happy tailgating, and Go Dragons!

For more information about a new or pre-owned Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, please contact:

Park Place Lexus Grapevine:

Charles Owen, New Car Sales Director at, (817) 416-3130; cowen3@10.2.54.33

Juan Puentes, Pre-Owned Sales Director at, (817) 416-3308; JPuentes@10.2.54.33

 

Park Place Motorcars Grapevine:

Matthew McPherson, New Car Sales Director at, (817) 310-7361; MMcPherson@10.2.54.33

Joseph Turner, Lead Pre-Owned Sales Manager at, (817) 310-7362; JTurner@10.2.54.33

Volvo Breaks Ground on Its First U.S. Plant

Volvo Cars of North America President and CEO Lex Kerssemakers, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and other key public officials officially broke ground on Volvo Cars’ first American factory in Berkeley County, South Carolina. “The groundbreaking proves that Volvo Cars follows promises with action,” said Lex Kerssemakers, “Volvo is moving quickly to expand its presence in the United States with new cars, new engines and now, a new factory.”

Factory Groundbreaking

The South Carolina factory will be the global production home of the all new S60 Sedan. Up to 100,000 cars will roll off the South Carolina plant’s assembly line each year, with the first US-built Volvos expected to hit the showrooms in late 2018.

Lex Kerssemakers, Factory Groundbreaking

Volvo saw strong demand for the all-new XC90 7-Seat SUV, which was released this summer, and the XC60 5-Seat SUV, which continues to delight drivers.

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Volvo Cars estimates that the factory will employ up to 2,000 people over the next decade and up to 4,000 people in the longer term. The plant would contribute approximately $4.8 billion in total economic output on an annual basis.

For more information about the Volvo XC90 or to schedule a test drive, please contact:

Donny Lambrecht at Park Place Volvo, (214) 956-5516, DLambrecht@10.2.54.33

Volvo Raising Money and Awareness for Pediatric Cancer Research One Car Sale at a Time

Volvo is on a mission to raise a million dollars to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand, fulfilling a promise the automaker made to 8-year-old Alex Scott over 10 years ago.
In 2004, Alex was battling cancer but that didn’t deter her vision of helping find a cure. Her goal was to raise $1-Million, one cup of lemonade at a time. Alex caught Volvo’s attention when she receive and inaugural Volvo for Life award nomination. The award honors hometown heroes doing extraordinary things in their communities. At this time, Alex’s Lemonade Stand raised $45,000 for pediatric cancer-related research.

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Alex took her vision nationwide, setting up fundraising efforts and virtual lemonade stands on-line for donations. Before she passed away in August of 2004 she had already raised over $700,000 on her own, and reached her million dollar goal, with support from Volvo.
At this time, Volvo employees at dealerships across the nation focused their sales goals…on lemonade, for Alex. Their efforts brought tremendous results, with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised to fulfill their promise to Alex.
Since then, Volvo, a founding sponsor of ALSF, has helped keep the inspiration and legacy of Alex alive, and help bring awareness to pediatric cancer. Today, the foundation she founded with Volvo’s help, has raised over $100 million dollars and funded over 500 research projects.
This holiday season,  Volvo is once again committed to donating one million dollars to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, one car sale at a time. With your help, every time we sell a car between now and January 4, 2016, Alex’s vision will reach another milestone with a contribution to her foundation.

During the Wonder of Winter sale event when you purchase or lease a new 2016 Volvo, help support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and get three payments on us. (excludes XC90 and Polestar Vehicles).

Volvo Wonder of Winter event

For more information about the Wonder of Winter specials or to schedule a test drive, please contact:

Donny Lambrecht at Park Place Volvo, (214) 956-5516, DLambrecht@10.2.54.33

Park Place Motorcars Arlington at Your Service

An exciting occasion for the Park Place family, as Park Place Motorcars Arlington– our 18th dealership in North Texas, opened its doors on Monday, November 2nd. Construction on the new, two-story dealership kicked off in summer 2014.

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Park Place Motorcars Arlington is a stunning, multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility featuring two Mercedes-Benz showrooms designed to showcase 16 new vehicles.

Arlington Showroom

The 91,000-square-foot dealership has plenty of automobiles as well as amenities.
Don’t miss a beat when you take your vehicle in for service. The shop is equipped with 35 service bays and 10 make-ready bays, as well as several beautifully appointed client lounges complete with TVs, Wi-Fi, and several personal work stations; there’s even snacks, and a private playroom for the kids.

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Next year, Mercedes-Benz will introduce 10 new vehicles, including a new 4-door mid-sized SUV, several new diesel models, a plug-in hybrid C-Class, and a sleek new SLK roadster.

Come see us and experience Park Place Motorcars Arlington, located at 4201 Beltway Place off Interstate 20. We look forward to seeing you!

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For New Car Sales inquiries, please contact News Car Sales Director, Richard Wasson (RWasson@10.2.54.33).

For Pre-Owned Sales, please contact Pre-Owned Sales Director, Joel Moss (JMoss@10.2.54.33).

The Parts and Service Departments are open Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Showroom is open 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday.