Business

Step One Automotive Group opens new Kia dealership on Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach

The new 34,000-square-foot facility replaces the previous Fort Walton Beach location and is now the largest Kia dealership in the Florida Panhandle, the company said.

Jared Williams

Fort Walton Beach has a new Kia dealership on Beal Parkway, with Step One Automotive Group opening its Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach facility for sales and service Monday.

The new building spans more than 34,000 square feet and replaces the brand’s previous Fort Walton Beach location. According to the company, it is the largest Kia dealership in the Florida Panhandle.

The facility includes a 29-bay service department staffed by factory-trained Kia technicians, an air-conditioned service shop and customer lounges. Step One said the service center is built to deliver fast turnaround times for everything from routine maintenance to comprehensive repairs.

“We designed this facility with customer and employee experience as the foundation,” said Mike Balog, managing partner of Step One Automotive Group. “Every detail from the layout of the service drive to the amenities in our waiting area was intentional. Fort Walton Beach deserves a Kia dealership that matches the quality of the product it sells.”

The dealership has created full-time positions across sales, finance, service, parts and administrative roles. Step One also expects the location to generate ongoing economic activity in Okaloosa County through local vendor relationships, community partnerships and additional consumer spending in Fort Walton Beach.

“Fort Walton Beach has a loyal, car-savvy customer base,” said Shane Thornton, general manager of Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach. “We’ve built something here that reflects the pride this community takes in quality and we’re excited to be part of it in a much larger way.”

Step One Automotive Group serves communities across Northwest Florida and supports military families through its Forever Warriors nonprofit foundation. The group also offers the Step One Forever Warranty and Step One Car Rental program.

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