Renovating an active automotive dealership is a different kind of construction challenge. The building has to change while the business keeps moving, and every part of the site serves a distinct purpose.
At Rivergate Kia, Crain Construction recently completed a comprehensive renovation to expand service capacity, modernize customer-facing spaces, and give the dealership a fresh look for years to come.
The project included a 10,000-square-foot addition to the existing service shop, adding 12 work bays, two wet detail bays, two dry detail bays, and a new locker room area for technicians.
Crain also remodeled about 11,000 square feet of showroom and office space, updated the exterior façade, and fully overhauled the parking area, including new lighting.
The project also marked another milestone in the established relationship between the two teams: Crain previously remodeled another Greenway Kia dealership in Hickory Hollow with the same owner and architect. Crain also partnered with the architect on the Ferrari dealership in Nashville. That familiarity gave the teams an established foundation for collaboration before work began.
Keeping the Dealership Moving
The biggest challenge wasn’t simply renovating the building—it was doing the renovation while the dealership continued serving its customers.
At an operating dealership, nearly every square foot of the property is being used to store, move, or service vehicles. Construction activities have to fit around vehicle deliveries, customer traffic, dealership operations, and the day-to-day needs of the staff.
That’s why Crain’s team made communication a central pillar of the project.
“There will always be some impact when you’re renovating an operating dealership,” says Mike Gribble. “The key is understanding that impact, communicating it and working together to minimize it.”
The construction team checked in daily with dealership operations about what work was happening, where construction activities would take place, and what the dealership needed that day. The dealership, in turn, communicated upcoming deliveries and operational needs so the construction team could adjust accordingly.
That communication also extended to Crain’s trade partners. Everyone on the project needed to understand that maintaining a smooth dealership operation was the top priority and plan accordingly.
Adapting to What Was Behind the Walls
As with any renovation, demolition revealed conditions that weren’t apparent in the original plans.
Rivergate Kia’s building is predominantly a pre-engineered metal structure, which can make modifications more complicated than in a conventional building. Once demolition exposed the existing structure, Crain worked with the design team to adapt the plans to the conditions they found.
Rather than allowing those unforeseen conditions to derail the project, the team collaborated on a design that could work with the existing structure and keep the renovation moving forward.
That kind of flexibility is an important part of renovation work. The plans provide a roadmap, but existing buildings often require the construction team to respond to what they discover along the way.
Built to Serve Kia Customers for Years to Come
In an active dealership, success isn’t just measured by what changes inside the building. It’s also measured by how well the business continues operating while those changes are taking place.
For Crain, the project exemplifies what successful renovation work requires: strong relationships, close communication, and the ability to solve problems as they arise.
The finished renovation gives Rivergate Kia more room to serve its customers and a more modern environment for its staff and visitors. Most importantly, the expanded service area increases Greenway’s capacity to service customers well into the future.
