Volkswagen is set to purchase a 265,000 square foot showroom at 11th Avenue and 56th Street in Manhattan that will serve as a highly visible showcase for the company’s VW and Audi brands.
The German automaker says that the showroom will debut a new design concept for VW and will open early next year as a VW dealership before the Audi showroom is unveiled later in the year.
CB Richard Ellis, the agency that handled the sale, says that VW paid $84 million for the real estate but also intends to invest another $41 million into a thorough renovation.
Numerous other automakers also operate flagship showrooms in Manhattan; the new VW-Audi complex will be just blocks from similar facilities showcasing Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The showroom is currently owned by Potamkin Auto Group, which sells Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Hummer and Saab models. Potamkin is moving the GM (and soon to be non-GM) brands to its former Honda showroom also on 11th Avenue in Manhattan when it sells off that franchise.
The building has a storied history in the automotive world; it was owned by GM until 1979 when Potamkin bought it and opened up Manhattan Cadillac. Later, GM bought back the facility for a short period before selling it back to Potamkin.
11/12, 2:54 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Thank God VW is looking for a new dealership concept.. the current showrooms with the horrid yellow roof accents look tacky.
11/12, 3:08 PM
posted by:
krautninja
i like the new Audi Dealerships tho they look quite nice, so im wondering what the new new Audi design wiill be
11/12, 3:10 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Hopefully its right next to the Towing company so when you need to pick up your POS for the umteenth time because it broke down you know where to take your complaints
GM. AN American Revolution
11/12, 3:12 PM
posted by:
EMINEM
You know your country has gone to poop, when imports are taking over government motors & ford.
11/12, 3:13 PM
posted by:
0-60
wow…265,000 sq feet. That place is huge.
How many Jettas and A4’s are they going to have to sell to get back their $125 Million?
11/12, 3:16 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
^ANd you would be wrong^ Witnes GM’s continuing climb in marketshare and world class hits like the Equinox, Lacrosse, Malibu, SRX, Silverado, Enclave, Acadia, Traverse, Terrain, Cruze, Regal, Corvette, Camaro etc and witness the fall of Japan with Toyota at the helm.
Japan will be out of the Auto business before long. Victims of the American Revolution that is General Motors
Get with the program. Get to your local GM dealer today for the best vehicles in the world from THEM STANDARD OF THE WORD.
GM. AN American Revolution!
11/12, 3:19 PM
posted by:
EMINEM
NMOFGM
http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t158/arrinef/?action=view¤t=motivator1e14c823e891e6b0ce30467f09.jpg
11/12, 3:24 PM
posted by:
NMOFGMs Step Dad
Wow, you have no idea how awesome in bed my wife is. She does wonders with her lips.
11/12, 4:01 PM
posted by:
orangecones
GM…..I would appreciate if you made like your company and died. Well, and not brought back to life by the government with my money.
11/12, 4:03 PM
posted by:
orangecones
as far as the article…. great to see that VW is heavily pushing forward in their plan to get huge and obtain substantial shares of the US market. To be honest, the only VWs I see in good numbers are New Beetle (98-04 mostly), Rabbit (06-08), Jetta (Mk IV and V) and CC (08+). All their other models don’t have much of a showing on the street.
11/12, 4:11 PM
posted by:
scratchy
i hear Manhattan is infested by un-American freedom hating , tree hugging liberals , the sort of people who will buy foreign POS cars.
NMOFGM , was this good or does it need to sound more stupid ?
11/12, 4:12 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
why NY? We lived in NY City for a year…as I remembered….it was way overcrowded for new car sales to succeed, only used car sales where good…as well as stealing cars…but this was way back in like 1995!
Eminem, nice find! Made it my wallpaper:-)
11/12, 4:40 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
0-60, the answer is none. It’s Manhattan real estate… it’ll probably double in value over the next 5-10 years.
11/12, 5:17 PM
posted by:
EMINEM
idrinorbarsaku
no problem man
11/12, 5:35 PM
posted by:
AutoCritical
Let the one-upping begin!
11/12, 6:06 PM
posted by:
reedfast
Johnny,
so VW is not only an automotive company, they are now a real estate corporation as well!
11/12, 6:09 PM
posted by:
A4
265,000 square feet? Ummm doubtful.
11/12, 7:21 PM
posted by:
Borat
I though there is premium showroom on Park Ave. I wasn’t paying attention and wasn’t in the ‘hood for a few years, can someone correct me? I mean is 11 Ave more prestigious then Park? Wasn’t porn forced to move to the water on West side?
11/12, 7:21 PM
posted by:
Borat
Correction to myself – Audi show room on Park.
11/12, 7:25 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM is an idiot
Volkswagen has a huge store/complex in downtown berlin with all the makes in different rooms or stores. I believe that area is about the same size of the new york one to be built.
11/12, 7:49 PM
posted by:
DrFill
This is not even worth a post
The title should say “Audi has a Manhattan Dealership?”
New York City is my town!
There are 100 car dealerships on 11th avenue
This will be one of many
DrFill
11/12, 9:33 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
@ Borat – Audi has a big showroom that’s next to the Chase headquarters on Park Avenue. 269 Park Avenue I believe its located. I work occasionally in the Chase building on 270 Park Avenue and sometimes I walk in. They have cool stuff there. There’s also a Benz one like three blocks from the Audi. Hopefully thet keep that one there though. It’s conviniently located.
11/12, 9:40 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
Waitaminute!! I know where these dealers are!! Yeah they’re near Riverside Drive. I have some projects down in that area too. There’s tons of dealers there including a huge BMW/MINI dealer. The actual Benz dealer isn’t there though. They have their showcase on Park Avenue and their dealer across the Jacob Javitz Center between West 41st and West 40th street.
11/12, 10:12 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Yeah
If they could get a dealership going on Park Avenue
Then you have a story!
Opening a dealership on 11th Avenue is not a story
(That’s why it’s called 11th Avenue!)
DrFill
11/12, 11:10 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
Big rich area there too. Alot of high rise luxury condos in that neck of the woods. It makes sense to have those dealers there.
11/12, 11:48 PM
posted by:
e46Ne90
New York City is my town too
smart move by vw trying expand its image in nyc first
11/13, 11:45 AM
posted by:
armstealer
It’s a good thing for the real estate INVESTMENT side, because they would have to sell 5000 $25000 cars at 100% profit to pay for the building.