Butler Jax Acquisition LLC paid $13.49 million for the Ernie Palmer Toyota dealership property in West Jacksonville.
Butler Automotive Group of Macon, Georgia, announced Dec. 6 it bought the 1290 Cassat Ave. dealership.
The deed was executed that day and recorded Dec. 9 with the Duval County Clerk of Courts.
Palmer Cleland Realty of Jacksonville LLC, with a Saint Johns address, sold the property to Butler.
The four deeds total 8½ acres of property and dealership structures that total about 54,000 square feet of space.
Truist Bank financed the purchase with a $10.8 million mortgage, also recorded Dec. 9.
Butler Automotive said in the Dec. 6 news release it intends to retain Ernie Palmer’s 97 employees and that Mark Hammel remains general manager.
Butler Automotive Group said the process to buy the dealership started in September. The purchase included the property.
Butler Jax Acquisition LLC registered the Butler Toyota Jacksonville name Nov. 22 with the state Department of Corporations. The mailing address is in Macon and the owner’s address is 1290 Cassat Ave.
Duval County property records show the dealership was built in 1970 and later rebuilt and expanded.
The dealership underwent a $7 million redevelopment in 2013-14.
It is now Butler Toyota Jacksonville.
Butler Automotive said the property “is state of the art with minimal improvements needed.”
It said the dealership “meets all of Toyota’s current standards and beyond.”
The purchase from Ernie Palmer Inc. marks Butler Automotive Group’s entrance into the North Florida market.
The company said it would like to grow in the greater Jacksonville area.
Butler Automotive has 13 dealerships in Georgia, South Carolina and now Jacksonville.
Its brands include Toyota, Honda, Ford, Acura, Lexus, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Nissan.
It is led by co-Presidents Marsh Butler Jr. and Morris Butler.