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3rd Annual Season of Giving Kicks off October 5th for North Texas Non-Profits Vying for up to $1000,000

Park Place Dealerships Opens Applications on October 5 and Invites City Charities to Apply

For the third year in a row, Park Place Dealerships is giving away a total of $100,000 to deserving non-profits who are serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in its Season of Giving campaign. Charities can apply at ParkPlaceCares.com beginning October 5 through October 30. Recipients will be announced the week of November 13, 2023.

“Through Season of Giving, we provide grants to local organizations that align with our four pillars of giving,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “In addition to providing funding, our Members at Park Place are actively engaged in volunteering throughout the year. It’s wonderful to see the bigger impact made in our community because of the ingenuity of our team to help in many different ways.”  

Non-profit organizations must fit the following criteria:

  • Organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
  • The charity must support one of Park Place Cares’ Pillars of Giving, which include: Education; Medical Research; Children’s Advocacy; or the Arts.
  • The charity must serve in at least one of the following counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt, Wise or Johnson.
  • The charity cannot already have received donations or in-kind support from Park Place in 2023.
  • Charities must apply by midnight October 30, 2023.

Under Park Place Dealerships’ philanthropic arm of Park Place Cares, Season of Giving offers local non-profits the opportunity to apply for a one-time, end of year grant. More than 406 charities applied in 2022 with 23 receiving a grant ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

“There are so many deserving charities in our community, and we want to give as many organizations as possible the opportunity to be considered for a Season of Giving grant,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Dealership’s Experiential Marketing Manager. “In the past two years, we have learned about hundreds of organizations that serve North Texas in meaningful ways and while we can’t give grants to each one, we have found other ways to support the non-profits.”

Park Place Members learned about For Oak Cliff through the Season of Giving application process. Members have collected school supplies several times for the nonprofit and regularly volunteer with the organization.

Park Place Members also put together hundreds of hygiene kits for young men attending Title 1 schools in need of basic items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, and socks for the 2022 Season of Giving recipient, Just Because.

In 2022, the Black Heart Association received a $5,000 grant to provide heart health education and screenings through its Mobile Heart Health Unit to patients who are primarily uninsured. Upon learning the organization also had maintenance needs for its mobile unit, Park Place provided experienced technicians to assist with keeping the mobile unit on the road serving the community.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Acura, and Land Rover. Park Place Bodywerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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11-Year-old North Texas Girl Wins “Rev Up Your Creativity” Coloring Contest

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health Teams Up with Children’s Health in Support of its Pediatric Patients

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health kicked off the “Rev Up Your Creativity” coloring contest in July to bring joy to Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Children’s Medical Center Plano patients. 


During “Automotive Week” at Children’s Health, kids of all ages colored their favorite car from the Park Place coloring book or drew a creation of their own to color. After all the entries were received, the community and Park Place Members (employees) voted online for their favorite entry with 11-year-old Abby emerging as the winner. 

Abby said she chose the ice cream design for her artwork “Sprinkles” because, “it was really hot outside.”

On September 13, Abby’s artwork was installed in the Children’s Play Area at all nine Park Place dealerships across Dallas-Fort Worth. A ceremony was held at Park Place Lexus Plano honoring the young artist. She was also featured on Park Place Dealerships’ social media channels. She received a goodie bag of special prizes including arts and crafts supplies, a Squishmallow with sprinkles plush toy, four tickets to the Dallas Museum of Art, plus a special Park Place experience as her health and schedule allows. Her family will receive a complimentary detail of their car. 

“We’ve partnered with Children’s Health for more than 20 years,” said Kara Connor, Experiential Marketing Manager at Park Place. “We really enjoyed seeing the kids express themselves through their artwork. We hope it brought them as much joy creating it as it did for us!”

In July, more than 20 Park Place Members visited Children’s Medical Center Dallas, the flagship hospital of Children’s Health, to hand out Park Place coloring books featuring luxury vehicles. They also had the opportunity to meet some of the care team and patients. Park Place members also visited the Ryan Seacrest Studios and participated in activities that aired on Children’s Health Red Balloon Network, which was broadcast to patients in their rooms. 

Park Place Dealerships donated $15,000 to Children’s in conjunction with the “Rev Up Your Creativity” campaign. 

“The Rev Up Creativity patient artwork contest has been an amazing experience for our patient families across our health system,” said Paulette Mulry, vice president of development at Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “We are extremely grateful to Park Place Dealerships for their long standing support of Children’s Health and joining our mission to make life better for children.” 

About Park Place Dealerships

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com. 

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Land Rover DFW Tech Goes the Extra Mile to Help Couple in Distress

Paul Vandenberg, Team Lead/Technician at Land Rover DFW, was in his Park Place uniform a few weeks ago when he stopped at a grocery store on his way home from work. He noticed an elderly couple sitting in their car. When he came out of the store, they were still there, and he noticed they had a flat tire. Paul tapped on the window and asked if they needed help.

What Vandenberg didn’t know was the Graffs had called Roadside Assistance and had been waiting three hours for help.

“It took me five minutes to pull the flat off,” said Vandenberg. “Their spare was also low, so I ran it up to a station and aired it up. They offered me money, but I said, ‘I can’t take any money from you, sir.’ They couldn’t change the tire themselves. It didn’t cost me anything to help.”

Since Vandenberg was in uniform, Mr. Graff called the dealership the next day and talked to Land Rover Service Director Jordan Welch. “We preach and preach that we must represent Park Place at work and outside of work,” said Welch. “Mr. Graff took the time to tell me all about their experience. To Paul it was easy. A simple tire change. To Mr. Graff, it meant the world. He was crying as he shared his story with me. You never know what your actions mean to others!”

It’s worth noting the Graffs are not Park Place clients. They simply needed help. And Vandenberg didn’t hesitate to help.

“I know I represent the company any time I’m in uniform,” concluded Vandenberg.

About Park Place Dealerships

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Coloring Contest to Bring Joy to Children in Hospital

Public Invited to Vote for Their Favorite Coloring Page

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health kicked off the “Rev Up Your Creativity” coloring contest to bring joy for patients at the pediatric hospital During “Automotive Week” at Children’s Health, kids of all ages had the opportunity to color their favorite car from the Park Place coloring book or draw a creation of their own.

The public is invited to view the top five entries at bit.ly/ParkPlaceArt and vote for their favorite between August 1 – 15.  A grand prize winner will be announced on Park Place Dealerships social media channels on August 17. The winner will receive a special Park Place experience tailored to their age and interests, plus a goodie bag of special prizes. The child’s parents will receive a complimentary detail of their car. The winning entry will be displayed in the children’s area within the Park Place client lounge.

More than 20 Park Place Members visited Children’s Health in Dallas to launch the contest, hand out Park Place coloring books featuring luxury vehicles, and meet with some of the staff and patients.

“We always enjoy partnering with Children’s Health and this is an especially fun project,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Dealerships’ Experiential Marketing Manager. “We had the opportunity to meet a few of the children as we kicked off this contest. Regardless of the age, everyone loves to color and especially cool cars.”

In addition to voting for their favorite artwork, the community also has the opportunity to donate to Children’s Health to further the mission to make life better for children. Donations Children’s Medical Center Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and all donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

About Park Place Dealerships

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW Undergoes Changes

Land Rover DFW One of Only 12 in Nation to Receive Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award

Park Place Land Rover DFW is one of only 12 Land Rover retailers in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award for exceptional sales, service and customer satisfaction.

“We’re very grateful to our clients for their support and loyalty,” said Matt Woolsey, Land Rover DFW general manager. “We’re proud of our members working together to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. We strive to make every Land Rover experience exceptional.”

Land Rover DFW offers the full inventory of new Range Rover, Defender and Discovery vehicles, as well as high-quality, Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

For many years, the dealership also has delivered exceptional Park Place experience to Jaguar clients. Today, Jaguar is undergoing a major transition that affects every element of its business model—including reimagining Jaguar as a pure electric luxury brand. While those changes are exciting, they signal a shift to a smaller, more exclusive vehicle lineup with a reduction in the number of Jaguar retailers.

“Park Place will no longer sell new Jaguar models starting July 1st,” continues Woolsey. “The dealership’s name will change to Park Place Land Rover DFW. However, the dealership will continue to provideexpert Jaguar service and repairs, as well as sales of pre-owned and Certified Pre-Owned Jaguars. In addition, we will still accept Jaguar lease returns, but we will not be able to offer new Jaguar upgrades after July 1.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Porsche Marks 75 Years with Celebration

Cattle Baron’s Ball Kicks off Raffle Ticket Sales at Porsche Dallas

On June 10th Park Place Porsche Dallas celebrated Porsche’s 75th anniversary with the full spectrum of color and a symphony for the senses. Porsche Club North America – Maverick Region members brought out a vast array of eye candy with gleaming examples of Porsche’s history, from 1950s models such as a Porsche 356 to modern sports cars that are just at home on the street as on the track.

“It was wonderful to celebrate the heritage of Porsche with so many enthusiasts at Park Place,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships Managing Director. “Porsche is an iconic brand that was inspired by one man’s dream to create the ultimate sports car. For 75 years, Porsche has combined tradition and innovation to bring fascinating designs and trailblazing technology to life. I imagine Ferry Porsche would have loved the sea of spectacular Porsches in a rainbow of colors and styles and listening to guests recounting stories about their shared passion.”

The celebration attracted nearly 500 enthusiasts who honored the legacy of Porsche and supported the local community.

“It was great to see so many of our friends gather to help us celebrate our love for everything Porsche,” said Patrick Huston, Porsche Dallas General Manager. “It also served as an opportunity to give back to our community by supporting the Cattle Baron’s Ball in their efforts to fight cancer. Committee members sold raffle tickets for prizes that included a choice of a luxury vehicle from Park Place Dealerships valued at $60,000.”

The 50th Annual Cattle Baron’s Ball will be held October 14th at Southfork Ranch featuring Country Music star Shania Twain. Since 1974, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised more than $93 million for cancer research. It is the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. More information on the exciting event, including details on how to purchase raffle tickets, is available at cattlebaronsball.com.

The artist Hatziel Flores created a live painting of a Porsche 911 in a full spectrum of color. At the end of the day the painting was auctioned off to benefit the American Cancer Society. Congratulations to Justin M. Ramirez, MD, for being the high bidder.

During the 75th anniversary celebration of Porsche, guests enjoyed tasty bites from the Original ChopShop and delicious quesadillas and tater tots by the Cheddr Wheel Food Truck. Frios gourmet popsicles in a variety of flavors were a very popular and tantalyzing treat. Lakewood Brewing supplied refreshing craft beers while guests enjoyed specialty cocktails from Herradura and Woodford Reserve. Inside, people relaxed in the deBoulle Lounge, while others watched the Le Mans race in a special viewing area.

A popular and fun attraction throughout the event was “Lip Readings.” Guests would apply fresh lipstick, then press their lips against a white card and a Lipsologist would analyze the lines of and the shape of the lip prints to reveal character traits. 

Porsche 75th Anniversary Celebration at Park Place Porsche on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Cam Mayfield Promoted to GM of Park Place Motorcars Arlington

Cam Mayfield was recently promoted to general manager of Park Place Motorcars Arlington.

“Our strong commitment to serve is our competitive advantage,” says Mayfield. “We cater to our client’s every need with a servant’s heart.  When you see someone take delivery of their Mercedes, it should give you goosebumps.”

Mayfield has more than 30 years of automotive experience. In 2003, he joined Park Place Lexus as service director. He also served as service director and fixed operations director at Park Place Motorcars Dallas. Last year, he graduated from the North American Dealer Association’s GM Academy.

“Cam has always been a valuable asset to Park Place,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealership’s Managing Director. “He is passionate about the experience and a transformative leader. I’m proud to see him take the helm in Arlington.”

Former Park Place Motorcars Arlington GM Malcolm Gage was recently promoted to Market Manager at Plaza Motors in St. Louis by Asbury Automotive Group, which owns Park Place and Plaza Motors.

A native Texan, Mayfield was born and raised in Dallas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in English and still lives in Dallas with Katie, his wife of more than 20 years.


Park Place Motorcars Arlington is located at 4201 Beltway Place off I-20 in Arlington. The Mercedes-Benz dealership has won the “Best of the Best” award multiple times since opening in 2015. This prestigious award honors the top 20 percent of 345 Mercedes-Benz dealers nationwide for outstanding sales, service and customer satisfaction. 

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Park Place Dealerships Collects Gloves and Bats for Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy

In the spirit of teamwork, Park Place Dealerships members collected more than 100 baseball bats and gloves to donate to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy. Located in West Dallas, the Academy serves the community year-round by providing baseball and softball instruction, league play, travel, and tournament opportunities, along with providing academic, social and emotional support to under-served kids ages 8 – 18.

“Each year, more than 20,000 young people participate in the Texas Rangers Youth Academy programming,” said Justin Henry, Director of Development for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “The gifts Park Place members made touch the lives of the children and help us to engage the community in a meaningful and powerful way.”

Park Place Dealerships invited their team members, families, significant others and friends from across Dallas/Fort Worth to Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, for the annual Park Place Member Celebration Sunday, April 16th.

“It was a treat to see so many of our members laughing and playing together,” said Tony Carimi. Park Place Managing Director. “Gathering away from work for relaxation and fun is an integral part of building and maintaining our culture. Our members truly care about each other, and this was an opportunity to share the day with spouses, friends, significant others and children alongside our work family.”

Outdoor games and giant inflatables were spread across the outfield where guests could laugh, jump and play together. They also had the opportunity to run the bases around the infield. Inside the Lexus Lounge, guests enjoyed casino games and a Park Place trivia game. Texas Rangers staff gave behind-the-scenes tours of the stadium.

Guests also enjoyed a buffet of traditional baseball food and drinks, including hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and ice cream.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Park Place Marketing Director Shares Retail and Social Media Expertise with UTA Students

Park Place Dealerships Marketing Director Amber Garrison participated in the University of Texas at Arlington’s Business Week by sharing her expertise in retail marketing and social media to upper-level business majors. 

“It was an honor to speak with our future leaders and showcase some of our branding and marketing techniques with a classroom full of business students,” said Ms. Garrison. “I was able to engage with these students and their knowledge of social media and marketing and apply it to real world techniques that we utilize in our branding across various platforms.”

Park Place positions itself as “Experts in Excellence” by providing exceptional client service, building trust and understanding clients’ needs, and by creating extraordinary ownership experiences.

Ms. Garrison shared examples of how Park Place’s “Experts in Excellence” branding works in print ads, digital marketing, billboards, social media, website, experiential marketing, community relations, and even internal communications.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Acura, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com. 

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Southlake Native Matt Woolsey Celebrates 25 Years at Park Place Dealerships

Jaguar Land Rover GM Grew Up and Raised Family in Southlake

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released last September, the median employee tenure for men was 4.3 years and 3.8 years for women, relatively unchanged from 2020. Park Place Dealerships’ median tenure is nearly double the national average with 8 years for men and 6 years for women. Matt Woolsey, General Manager at Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW, recently celebrated 25 years at Park Place Dealerships.

“When I first started at Park Place, we were just beginning to use this thing called the internet,” Woolsey says with a chuckle. “Today, we have all the tools necessary to provide our Members (Park Place employees) with everything they need to do their jobs. What I love most about Park Place is the commitment to help our members learn and grow, and ultimately to ensure the client has the best experience.”

Woolsey moved to Southlake in 1980 with his parents and sister Kristina. “There were less than 1,000 people here. After graduating from Carroll High, I went to Austin and studied Business Economics at the University of Texas. Hook ‘em! I met my wife Anne there. I graduated in 1997 and got in the car business in ‘98.”

Woolsey started as a sales consultant at Park Place Motorcars in Bedford. He worked his way up to General Manager at the Mercedes-Benz store and has served as GM at Lexus Grapevine; Jaguar Land Rover North Austin; Jaguar Land Rover Porsche Volvo of Greenville, South Carolina; and Jaguar Land Rover DFW, where he currently works.

“Matt’s passion for our members makes him a leader that others are eager to follow,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships’ Managing Director. “His relentless drive for excellence has helped him meet our clients’ needs and mentor hundreds of members. Over the years, he has assisted families with multiple generations of drivers.”

While everyone wants to be liked, Woolsey says it’s imperative he continues to earn his employees’ respect. “When I walk through the store, people see “the GM” walking by. Not the person. It’s just human nature to see the title, and not necessarily the person for who they are. I told one of my directors just last week: it is so much more important to be respected than to be liked. As leaders we have a responsibility to provide for our members and to make sure they can provide for their families. Having our members see our dedication and commitment to excellence will ultimately lead to respect. I’d love for all our team members to like me. I’m human, too!  But I’d rather have their respect.”

He and his wife Anne raised their sons Austin (23) and Bennett (20) in Southlake. “They graduated from the same high school as me. Austin graduated from Carroll in 2017. He was the band president. He graduated from UNT with a major in Jazz studies. He married his college sweetheart, and they live in Austin. Bennett graduated in 2021. He’s in Nashville pursuing his dream of being a singer/songwriter.”

Woolsey’s advice to young people just starting their careers: “Stay the course. The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. It’s greener where you water it. Keep working hard and great things will happen for you.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and employs more than 1,400 members. Park Place Dealership operates three collision centers, an auto auction, and nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. Asbury is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. For more information, visit parkplace.com.