We’ve all seen cars displayed
in malls. Well, Baron BMW of Merriam has taken what it considered as the “next logical step," opening
up a BMW showroom in the Oak Park Mall in the city of Overland Park, Kansas (pictured is the Merriam
dealership).
Like a conventional dealership, the mall showroom will have computer kiosks and a coffee bar.
Other plans include introduction of new vehicles and fashion shows. Finally, a test drive area outside the mall has
been prepared for those itching to see how their would-be Bimmers handle the parking lot gymkhana.
Anyone for
new socks, some Chik-fil-A and a Z4?
[Source: Kansas City Business Journal]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Vinny @ Apr 27th 2006 8:01PM
That's pretty smart for any dealer. There's already a lot of high-income foot-traffic walking around (Overland Park is known for this) and it gives the dad a place to go while the women are shopping.
JayP @ Apr 27th 2006 8:07PM
A Hyundai dealer opened a storefront in a local mall- once car, one salesman (I think- no one home.)
Same mall as the one the punk kid reported his car carjacked over the cocaine.
John @ Apr 27th 2006 8:07PM
Wow... I wonder how they're going to deal with shooing away the highschool kids who just use the dealership as a joyride place or just loitering around hoping to get behind the wheel of a bimmer for a fun test drive.
I lived 2 minutes away from that Baron BMW (intersection of I35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway) in Merrieam... when I was 19, (which seems like a long time ago :cry:) I went there hoping to see if there were any used VWs or BMWs (they sold both there back then) .... and I basically got shoed off the lot for being too poor to afford what they had.
Kevin @ Apr 27th 2006 8:26PM
That picture is misleading. BMW doesn't make good looking cars anymore.
That One Person @ Apr 27th 2006 9:02PM
Thats cool. If its in a more upscale area, they will definitely get the business. Especially from girls who want daddy to buy them a new BMW (I see a lot of girls around here who are like 16 or 17 driving BMWs).
#3...lol I got "kicked" out of a Honda dealership one day because I looked too poor (it wasnt said quite so frank, but yea). Actually, I got kicked out of a few Honda dealerships, two Toyota dealerships and one Chrysler dealership. I told them I had the money to buy a car but they didnt believe me lol (I didnt have the money but thats not how you treat potential customers). The best one was when I walked into the local Ferrari dealership. Talk about nice people. I was offered coffee and if I had questions, just ask. I had a nice convo with a salesman...asked about prices, financing...stuff like that. REALLY cool people...
JimboNC @ Apr 27th 2006 9:17PM
What's next -- using a defunct mall cinema for used cars? Disconnect the horns and line them up in rows for a Drive-in experience? Oh yeah, and take out the back seats to avoid a raid.
Ben @ Apr 27th 2006 9:28PM
About three years ago a Subaru dealership opened at the Markville mall just north of Toronto
Bryce @ Apr 27th 2006 9:48PM
Sorry no Chik-fil-A in OP......Doesn't anyone remember the dealerships who sold cars in malls during the 70s and 80s?
Stoneman @ Apr 27th 2006 10:37PM
#2 your place is all frigged up! Sounds like a good place to me!
I could just see Starbucks (charbucks) opening next to a BMW "Mall" outlet.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Michael @ Apr 27th 2006 10:52PM
Indoor malls are passe. These days, upscale open-air "lifestyle centers" are the rage. I could definitely picture a dealership there, so long as the shop, offices, and used cars are well hidden but easily accessible in the back.
scooter @ Apr 28th 2006 12:00AM
I have shopped at that mall for about 10 years now. I would say for the last 4 years mall security has driven BMW X5s. That always struck me as odd 'cause this ain't L.A. Maybe Baron worked a deal with the mall to have their cars displayed in a classy setting. Like in front of The Cookie Factory.
iQuack @ Apr 28th 2006 3:36AM
"#3...lol I got "kicked" out of a Honda dealership one day because I looked too poor.................The best one was when I walked into the local Ferrari dealership. Talk about nice people. I was offered coffee and if I had questions, just ask........"
---------------------------------
This doesn't surprise me. Sometimes oddly or even sloppily dressed people are quite wealthy.
A good salesman has little to lose by being cordial to someone who looks like a bum so long as he doesn't stink. You never know who has the dough!
Could be that the salesman who was nice to you had sold expensive cars to rich hippies or similar. In this area (San Francisco) you can't tell who's rich and who isn't by looking at them.
I'm in good financial shape but dress like shit much of the time;-).
Razib Ahmed @ Apr 28th 2006 7:14AM
The place looks very beautiful and it looks like more a movie scene than dealer shop. I think that BMW and other car companies should try to open similar fancy looking shops in South Asia.These days sale of cars in India is increasing from month to month and India has very attractive car loan facilities. 85% of the Indian cars are sold(http://www.southasiabiz.com/2006/04/growing_car_sales_in_india.html) through a financed package (the world average is 70%).
Magyar @ Apr 28th 2006 7:44AM
I've seen this "Urban" showrooms in Champs-Elysees in Paris and in Tiergarten Ave. in Berlin. When I was in Berlin, we went to the Volkswagen Showroom and it was really nice, since you could sit in almost any Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat and look at (not touch) classical and new Bentley models and even a Bugatti Veyron.
Rob @ Apr 28th 2006 8:22AM
There is a upscale mall in El Salvador which has had an awesome looking BMW showroom called Europa Motors within it for various years now - you can see it here:
http://www.guanacosonline.org/images/20040418MallPaseo/IMG_5455.JPG
and
http://www.guanacosonline.org/images/20040418MallPaseo/IMG_5458.JPG
Peter W. @ Apr 28th 2006 8:43AM
Your comments: I don't think it will be chick-fil-a and socks.
I think it's going to be Frappucino, MacBook Pro, and a Z4.
Hell, the Apple store will probably open up next to the dealership and they'll share an iPod stockroom. In the meantime, I won't hold my breath for Scion to show up next to Hot Topic.
Koba @ Apr 28th 2006 9:27AM
This isn't new, Like 8 years ago a Jag dealership (yeah, full showroom and all) opened in a mall, and this wasn't LA, it was Kentucky! A reasonably high class mall tho, but they're not there now. I seriously wonder how long this will last, as a full service dealership probably can't operate out of a stall (some of that legendary BMW service), and the leases are way crazy.
Bill @ Apr 28th 2006 9:34AM
I'm not sure if they're still there, but nearly 20 years ago on a teenage trip to Paris, I recall that the French automakers had combination showrooms/cafes/restaurants on the Champs Elysee. You dined next to the cars.
Tyler Rendleman @ Apr 28th 2006 9:44AM
There is actually a MINI dealership/showroom in a mall in MN as well, not the MOA, Southdale (the first indoor mall in the US). #10, indoors might be passe where you live, but in MN, not so much.
The MINI dealership seems to do really well. Its also right across the street from their full service dealership with service, et al
John @ Apr 28th 2006 11:25AM
#17 They are still there. A few others too.