MARYSVILLE — Victor Fernandez’s first job in the automotive industry was in 1994, and 10 years later, he opened the Marysville Ford dealership in 2004 as its co-owner.
Another 10 years later, Fernandez is the sole owner of Marysville Ford, and on Wednesday, April 9, he was joined by his employees, his colleagues and his family in breaking ground at the site of the Marysville Ford dealership’s new location, just north of the Marysville Honda dealership, on the west side of Smokey Point Boulevard.
Fernandez was joined not only by his wife Sarah and sons Tony and Ethan in grabbing golden shovels, but also by Tyler Mildren of Perlo Construction, who will serve as project manager for the anticipated nine months of construction between now and when the new building’s doors are expected to open to the public, as well as Gene Mildren of the Mildren Design Group, which served as architects for the roughly 50,000-square-foot facility.
“Marysville Ford is the fastest growing Ford store in Snohomish County,” said Xavier Cortes, general sales manager of the Marysville Ford dealership, which currently remains at 3520 136th St. NE. “People will want to come here because of new services like Quick Lane, which allows customers to come in and get their oil changed without waiting, as well as the huge new selection that we’ll have here. We’ll be able to stock a lot more inventory.”
Among the other planned features that Cortes touted were the new facility’s expanded lounge area for adults and play area for children, complete with a coffee shop and a Ford merchandise store within the dealership itself.
“We’ve been waiting for this to happen for the past five years,” Cortes said. “Through planning and preparation, what was once a dream is now a fact.”
As for Fernandez, he still cites his humble origins as an immigrant from Columbia who came to America at the age of 18 with only $300 and a suitcase to his name.
“When you start with nothing, you really appreciate a business that serves you well,” Fernandez said. “I want to be that kind of business.”
