Five years after first opening its doors, Gus Machado Ford of Kendall has undergone more than $2 million in renovations. The completely remodeled facility is the first dealership in South Florida to make these changes in accordance with Ford’s Trustmark design standards.
“It’s a complete renovation from head to toe and it makes for a very neat and clean image for the dealership, as well as a uniform image in line with other Ford dealerships,” said general manger Jorge Martinez.
The building’s façade, which faces S. Dixie Highway (US1), experienced a total makeover that saw its existing front design replaced with aluminum metal clad paneling.
Inside, the showroom similarly was modernized with metal and wood panels throughout the offices and dealer reception desks, new energy-efficient LED lighting, refurbished bathrooms and an updated parts counter. The lounge also has been overhauled and customers can enjoy the Gus Machado Café, which will offer food and beverages, while their vehicles are being serviced.
Customers aren’t the only ones who will enjoy the changes, however; the dealership’s service shop floor has been renovated as well to provide a better ambiance for the technicians and the entire property has been repaved as well.
“We have a showcase here that is just incredible,” said Machado, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary with Ford this year. “The customers really deserve it. I hope that everyone reading this understands that, for us, customers are the most valuable part of our entire organization. We depend on how happy they are and that’s our goal — to keep them happy.”
Gus Machado is something of an automotive icon in South Florida. A Cuban immigrant who moved to the U.S. to attend military school, he purchased his first carrelated business, a Sinclair Oil gas station, in 1956. He began buying and selling used cars a year later, working his way up gradually until he finally had enough saved up to buy his first dealership in 1982. Two years later, he bought his first Ford dealership — Gus Machado Ford of Hialeah — and the rest, as they say, is history.
“Like anything in life, you choose what you want to be,” he said. “Since I was young, I wanted to buy and sell cars. I don’t know why, but that’s what I wanted to do. If you have a goal in mind when you are young and you pursue and accomplish it, it’s a wonderful thing.”
One of the most successful Hispanic automotive dealers in the U.S., Machado has received scores of industry honors during his tenure in the industry.
In just the past six years, he has twice won the Ford President Award, which recognizes dealers who exceed customer expectations every day in every department, and in 2011 he was one of only six dealers to receive the Salute to Dealers Award, which recognizes not only customer-related excellence, but excellence in serving and giving back to the community.
The secret is an enduring passion for what he does and making himself available, he said.
“Anything customers need, no matter what it is, my office is always open,” he said.
Gus Machado Ford of Kendall is located at 15551 S. Dixie Hwy. For more information, call 1-800-537-1561 or visit www.gusmachadofordofkendall.com.
