CLIENT NEWS: Tesla is opening a new Kendall showroom and service center in a former toy store
March 18, 2026A busy shopping center off Kendall Drive will soon feature a Tesla showroom and service center on the site of a former toy store.
The new car complex will join other Tesla showrooms at South Florida malls, including Aventura, Dadeland and Brickell City Centre.
Palms at Town & Country, off Southwest 117th Avenue, is getting the Tesla showroom and service center in late 2026 after years of discussion.
Kimco Realty, which owns and runs Palms, announced Thursday it has signed a lease with the electric car company to open a 45,255-square-foot showroom and service center on property it owns directly across the street at 8789 SW 117th Ave. The site is a former Toys R Us store.
Tesla, which has its die-hard fans and detractors — with founder Elon Musk the particular magnet for like or dislike — will fill the long-shuttered Toys R Us building that has been vacant since June 2018. That’s when the retail chain started liquidating its stores nationwide after filing for bankruptcy.
Austin-based Tesla first approached Miami-Dade County in September 2024 about taking over the Kendall space to open a showroom, the South Florida Business Journal reported.
In addition to the main Town & Country mall — which recently saw the opening of a new Barnes & Noble bookstore and the Chinese variety retailer Miniso that sells low‑priced household goods, toys, cosmetics and stationery — the coming Tesla showroom is centered in a packed neighborhood of commercial businesses and homes.
Tesla’s showroom and service center will also be encircled by the Crossroads Plaza strip center at 11708 SW 88th St. that’s home to a Pollo Tropical, Miller’s Ale House and Mistero Restaurant.
There’s a Shell gas station on the corner in walking distance — though that won’t entice electric vehicle owners who will be supercharging their Teslas at the new service center.
Across the street from that strip is another strip with a Quest Diagnostics, a Red Lobster and McDonald’s and doctors’ offices. And yet another portion of Crossroads Shopping Center on the Kendall Drive corner houses Crossroads Animal Hospital, a Verizon store and a Dairy Queen.
Tesla’s growing South Florida foothold
The new showroom expands Tesla’s presence in South Florida. Tesla lists about 10 showrooms and/or service centers from the Miami area to Palm Beach County. Most are spread between Miami-Dade and Broward, in Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens and the Miami Design District.
Town & Country’s evolution
Katie Wycoff, director of real estate at Kimco Realty Corp., said Tesla’s opening is a part of the 1980s-era Town & Country’s “commitment to purposeful growth and long‑term relevance.”
The center’s anchor, a Publix that opened at the outdoor strip mall off North Kendall Drive in 1985 at 8250 Mills Dr., closed permanently in January. The Lakeland-based supermarket giant isn’t giving up on Town & Country. Publix plans to rebuild a bigger and more modern store in that space and reopen sometime in the next two years.
Wycoff said in a statement that the Tesla showroom and service center aligns with Kimco’s strategy to introduce brands that resonate with the community.
“Tesla is a distinctive addition to Palms at Town & Country. The center has long been a hub for Kendall residents, offering everything from essential retail to beloved restaurants and wellness options in an easy, open‑air environment. Bringing Tesla into the mix underscores the property’s strength and reinforces our intent to continue expanding the roster with impactful, experience‑driven tenants.”
