The newly expanded Friendly Kia facility on U.S. 19, as seen in this rendering, is one more sign of the vitality of this Pasco County community.
Along with this improvement to Main
Street, two other major projects are also about
to open, showing the city’s vibrant business
resurgence. Over on U.S. 19, Friendly Kia,
under the leadership of John Gillis since 1998,
is expanding with a new 15,000-square-foot
showroom, additional 10 service work bays
and a completely renovated service waiting
area. Friendly Kia is the top volume Kia
sales leader everywhere in the USA except
for California and is ranked #5 in volume
nationally. Kia Motors has recognized Friendly
Kia as a President’s Award winner for the sixth
consecutive year, based on outstanding sales
and service treatment.
Added to this activity, Florida’s largest
private independent nonprofit university,
Keiser University, is building a new campus
in the heart of the city next to the city’s new
parking garage at U.S. Highway 19 and Main
Street. The city’s parking structure will have
354 spaces on three levels, making it easy for
visitors to enjoy what the city has to offer.
New Port Richey is definitely a community
on the move. 9
The Hacienda on downtown
New Port Richey’s Main Street has
been renovated and is prepared to
return to its former glory.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 141