BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Gettel Automotive Group celebrated 2017 with the purchase of eleven new vehicle franchises in Punta Gorda. The Palm stores, including Toyota, Hyundai, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Buick-GMC, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mazda and Mitsubishi franchises brings Gettel’s number of Florida dealerships to 22 total. All of the dealerships are now open under the Gettel franchise agreement and continue Gettel’s tradition of volume pricing and excellence in customer service.

The Gettel dealerships have been serving the Bradenton/Sarasota market for 26 years, starting with Jim Gettel’s first Toyota dealership in 1991. Three years later, he purchased another Toyota dealership in Gainesville, now known as Gatorland Toyota. In 1996, he relocated Gettel Toyota to U.S. 41, three miles north of the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. He continued to expand the Gettel brand with the purchases of additional dealerships in the southwest Florida area. In addition to his two original Toyota locations (Gettel Toyota in Bradenton and Gatorland Toyota in Gainesville), the Gettel Automotive Group opened Gettel Toyota of Lakewood in 2011, creating an additional 122 jobs in the area at that time. Gettel now runs six stores in the Bradenton–Sarasota area including Hyundai, Nissan and Acura, three stores in Ocala including BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen and two locations in Gainesville including another BMW store and Gatorland Toyota.

Before opening his Florida stores, Jim Gettel was already a successful dealer in native state of Michigan selling Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Cadillac, Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep products.

Bill Finocchiaro, GM of Gettel Toyota of Lakewood for the last three years, will be overseeing the transition in Punta Gorda. Every eligible Palm employee was offered a job after the transition. There will be 250 associates at the Punta Gorda locations, with a total staff for the group employing over 1100 associates. “We are excited to be a part of the Punta Gorda community and working with all of the former Palm associates!” Bill Finocchiaro said.

“Our employees are our most valuable resource,” said Mr. Gettel “and our customers deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and honesty.” Mr. Gettel plans to bring those ideals and beliefs to the stores in Punta Gorda.

The new Gettel stores are located on South Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda 941-639-1155 or visit us on the web Gettel.com.

For more information, please contact Ellen Walther at 941-417-5009.

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SOURCE Gettel Automotive Group