Walser Automotive Headquarters (Toyota Dealership)
A hospitality-driven flagship redefining the automotive retail experience
The Walser Toyota Dealership in Bloomington, MN, is a 106,000 SF flagship showroom and corporate headquarters, designed and built by NELSON. This three-story facility redefines automotive retail with a guest-first showroom, modern office spaces, and a sustainable four-story parking structure. Featuring innovative sales tables, hospitality amenities, and eco-conscious materials like recycled Teroxy flooring and LED lighting, the project enhances both customer and employee experiences while prioritizing environmental responsibility.
Developed through extensive research and collaboration, the Walser Toyota Dealership also marks the introduction of the new Walser Standard—a customer engagement model focused on transparency and equality. By replacing traditional sales desks with open tables, the layout encourages side-by-side interactions between customers and staff, fostering trust and simplifying the buying process.
The dealership also incorporates a hospitality-forward approach, offering seasonal snacks and beverages, along with a lounge-inspired waiting area in the service department, complete with premium seating, charging stations, and entertainment options.
The site presented unique environmental challenges, including proximity to protected wetlands and limited available land. To address this, NELSON repurposed two existing sites—a former dealership and a shuttered restaurant—minimizing new land use. The result is a unified, efficient, and inviting space that enhances the employee and customer experience as well as the local community.
