Hendrick Automotive Group’s newest Honda dealership is ready to take the stage.

The Blue Stage, that is.

Hendrick, which bills itself as the nation’s largest privately held automotive retail organization, has opened Rick Hendrick Honda in Bradenton, Fla., a brand-new facility designed and built around the manufacturer’s Blue Stage brand language.

The store is the dealership group’s 16th Honda franchise and its second in Florida, joining Hendrick Honda Bradenton, nine miles away, which opened in 1988.

Hendrick Automotive, based in Charlotte, N.C., operates 96 dealership locations in 13 states, including six in Florida. The company said the new store will add 75 jobs initially, with additional growth planned.

“Bradenton is a wonderful community, and we’ve been proud to be part of it for nearly four decades,” chairman and CEO Rick Hendrick said. “We’re grateful for the relationships we’ve built here and for the teammates who take care of our customers every day.

“Giving back to the communities we serve has always been important to our company, and Bradenton is a place where that commitment truly matters. We’re also excited to grow our longtime partnership with Honda and introduce this beautiful new facility. The opportunity to expand our team and continue earning the trust of customers across Florida’s Suncoast is something we don’t take for granted.”

The location showcases Honda’s recently adopted Blue Stage showroom design, which includes energy-efficient floor-to-ceiling glass designed to fill the space with natural light. The 56,000-square-foot facility houses more than 300 new and pre-owned vehicles on site, and Hendrick said customers will also have access to more than 30,000 additional cars, trucks and SUVs available for nationwide delivery through HendrickCars.com.

The climate-controlled service center features 31 bays outfitted with the latest tools, technology and diagnostic equipment, Hendrick said. There’s also a guest lounge with free wi-fi and complimentary refreshments, as well as available loaner vehicles and free shuttles to nearby destinations.

“Our goal is to raise the bar for what customers can expect from a world-class Honda dealership experience,” Hendrick market area vice president Chuck Colson said. “From a more relaxed, interactive atmosphere in the showroom to shorter wait times and same-day repairs in an expanded service area, we designed this facility with our teammates and customers in mind.”

Hendrick has recent experience with opening a ground-up dealership designed around an OEM’s new brand specs. Just 18 months ago, the group unveiled BMW of McKinney in McKinney, Texas, built to fit the automaker’s Retail Next design concept.

David Pierce, who has been with the Hendrick organization for 23 years and has led Hendrick dealerships for more than a decade, has been named general manager of the new store.

“Not only is Bradenton a wonderful place to live and work, but it’s also economically vibrant and near some of Florida’s largest population centers and coastal attractions,” Pierce said. “Our location is convenient to one of the area’s fastest-growing retail, dining and recreation corridors and accessible from I-75.

“But you can’t build a great dealership without prioritizing people. Our culture is focused on going the extra mile for our teammates, our customers and our neighbors in the community. When we combine that approach with an amazing new facility, we are very excited about our future here.”