Gator Golf Cars plans new showroom, service center in North Naples -

2022-09-10 04:56:25 By : Mr. Larry Zhang

Gator Golf Cars  plans a n   expansion  into North Naples  with a new showroom and a separate service center nearby after making a multimillion-dollar investment with the recent purchase of a former funeral home and auto service center.  

Target opening dates for the new businesses are not available  yet  but  renovation  work is expected to begin  soon on the service center, followed by a mid-October start for the showroom, said   Craig  Wilbrett  of Naples-based  Wilbrett  Construction .  

The new local showroom for Gator Golf Cars is planned at 2011 Pine Ridge Road, the former location of Muller-Thompson Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services .  The  new  golf cart  business will be between O’Reilly Auto Parts store and the Pet Paradise resort,  just  west of the  Yahl  Street intersection .  

Gator Golf Cars founder David J. Parker  purchased the  0.6-acre property in May for $2.6 million.  A demolition permit was issued in late June  for  the complete demolition of the  single -story  former funeral hom e  built in 1980  a s well as the  asphalt parking lot on the property , but then a site improvement plan application in early July  details that only the front half of the 7,000-square-foot building  will be demolished, leaving a 3,500-square-foot building for the new business, Collier County Growth Management Department records show.   No addition will be made to the building, which is non-conforming because of setbacks, pre-application notes show.  Parker could not be reached for comment.

On June 30, Parker purchased 7,200 square feet of commercial space  on 0.46 acres  at  nearby  5385  Yahl  St. for $1.8 million from Joseph and Angela L. Aline , property records show . On July 1, Joe Aline  retired  at the age of 71  and  permanently closed  Regal Tire & Auto , which he had operated on that  industrial park p roperty for 25 years .  The former auto center will be used by Gator Golf Cars as a  shop  where technicians will  maintain and service its l uxury golf carts .  

“That building over the years I completely rebuilt. It’s a better building than when I bought it 25 years ago,” said Aline, who had not planned to sell  his business and property  until  convinc ed  to do so  this spring  by  representatives of  Naples-based Investment Pro perties  Corp.   

Parker established  his   family owned   Gator Golf Cars in LaBelle in 2005.  He  since has  expanded beyond Hendry County with locations in Lee and Collier counties.  Gator s howrooms  specializing in sales, service, parts, accessories and rentals of   custom  golf carts  now  operate in E a st Naples,  Fort Myers and  LaBelle .

The factory-authorized golf cart dealership joined the Club Car family in 2008 and has earned several honors for dealer of the year.  The business feature s   Club Car  customized  solutions for both private consumers and commercial use rs  by offering traditional golf cars as well as  multi-passenger  private transportation vehicles and low-speed ,  street – legal golf cars .  

Gator Golf Cars  offer s two-, four- and six-passenger new and refurbished golf cars as well as Carryall commercial utility vehicles and transporter options for resorts, schools, municipalities, security, property management, grounds maintenance   and other uses.