It's a car dealership that resembles an upscale hotel more than the Spartan auto shops of the past.
The new Lexus of Bellevue, which opened this week at the site of the old Bellevue City Hall, greets visitors with chandeliers, earth-tone furniture and a baby grand piano. A walk through the showroom passes flat-screen TVs, a deli, an escalator, and facing downtown Bellevue, a set of artificial putting greens.
It may be fancy, but it also reflects a new reality, the owners say: Customers won't put up with sleazy salesmen and basic décor anymore. Today, dealerships need to cater to customers shopping or waiting for repairs, sometimes with children in tow.
"My job is to make sure I've accomplished every need you have," said Michael O'Brien, who owns Lexus of Bellevue and four other car dealerships in the Seattle area.
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