Jim Ellis Automotive Group is thrilled to announce the opening of the Jim Ellis Volkswagen Lighthouse in Chamblee, Georgia — a project celebrating over 50 years of family tradition, the flagship Jim Ellis Volkswagen dealership, and lots of Volkswagen love!
“We are celebrating our 50-year history and the hard work and dedication by so many fabulous employees that helped us grow into the largest and most trusted family owned-and-operated dealership group in Georgia,” said the late Jimmy Ellis at the Jim Ellis Volkswagen of Chamblee Lighthouse groundbreaking ceremony in 2021. “Our team has come up with a design that we really are going to be proud of and a facility to take us to the next 50 years of Jim Ellis Automotive.”
Over five decades ago, Jim Ellis Automotive founders, Jim and Billie Ellis, started what is now known as the Jim Ellis family of dealerships when they opened a flagship Volkswagen dealership in Chamblee. In celebration of 50 years in business, construction began on an elaborate facility to house Jim Ellis Volkswagen of Chamblee at 5855 Peachtree Boulevard in Chamblee. The building is also home to the Jim Ellis corporate offices and a private museum and event space, affectionately called Jimmy’s Garage, in memory of the late Jim Ellis Automotive President and CEO Jimmy Ellis.
The first phase of the new facility opened at the close of 2023, housing a new showroom and service area for Jim Ellis Volkswagen of Chamblee. Now with the completion of the third and fourth floors that house the corporate offices and Jimmy’s Garage Museum, the Jim Ellis Volkswagen Lighthouse is complete and equipped with a number of exciting features!
• Four-story facility that is roughly 304,000 square feet
• Ground level houses a 52,000-square-foot VW dealership with state-of-the-art technology
• Facility includes a café, customer experience center, covered outdoor customer lounge area, museum and auto gallery (coming 2024), rooftop vehicle delivery area and Jim Ellis corporate headquarters
• A four-level parking facility that can accommodate 450 vehicles and provides access to each level of the building
• Opportunity for a unique rooftop delivery experience
• Charging infrastructure with a level-three charging station for inventory use to support Volkswagen’s current and upcoming electric vehicle model offerings
• Four vehicle delivery bays including one indoor, two covered outdoor and one covered rooftop
• Service area includes 47 total service bays along with a parts department for Volkswagen and Audi parts
• Five detail bays and two drive-thru automatic car wash lanes
The Jim Ellis Volkswagen Lighthouse celebrates its heritage with a unique variety of elements that honor both Atlanta’s deep-rooted connection with Volkswagen and the cherished legacy of Jim Ellis. Our showroom’s design is inspired by the classic architecture of old Chamblee, reflecting the vintage essence of the 1970s when Jim Ellis first introduced Volkswagen to the community. It’s a place where old meets new and every corner tells a story! Positioned at the original address where the first Volkswagen building was established in Chamblee. This location stands as a testament to Jim Ellis bringing the first Volkswagen dealership to Chamblee and will continue to share the business values of late founder, Jim Ellis, for years to come.
This new facility and the success of Jim Ellis Automotive Group offers a lot for the third generation of the Ellis family to be proud of, just as Jimmy hoped. Come visit us at this new location at 5855 Peachtree Blvd. in Chamblee, or online at JimellisVWAtlanta.com. Here’s to new beginnings, precious memories and driving into the future at the Jim Ellis Volkswagen Lighthouse!