Step One Automotive Group has officially opened their first Pensacola location, Buick GMC Cadillac Pensacola, located at 5651 Pensacola Blvd. To commemorate the official grand opening, Step One hosted a Grand Opening Gala on Thursday, September 26.

The celebration was hosted at the new dealership, which was transformed inside and out into a dazzling event space by Showtime Events and TSC Productions. Before the party could begin, a multiple-chamber ribbon cutting was held outside on the red carpet with the Greater Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, and Navarre Beach Chambers of Commerce to officially welcome the new dealership to the community.

Guests reveled in heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Classic City Catering and signature car-themed cocktails by Old Hickory Whiskey Bar throughout the evening, along with sushi rolled on-site by Dharma Blue’s award-winning sushi chef, Yoshie Eddings. Event goers had the opportunity to choose from a selection of hand-crafted cigars from Pensacola’s own, Cigar Factory and enter into a raffle drawing featuring a weekend with the Cadillac XT6 and a complimentary dinner.

Owner, Fernando Arellano, took to the stage during the gala to thank the crowd of 1,000 guests for their unwavering support of the company and recognize Destin local and professional tennis player, Alexa Guarachi, with an award of distinction from Step One Automotive Group. Guarachi has been playing tennis since she was 5 years old and quickly made a name for herself in the Florida, National, and World rankings. Now with dual citizenship in Chile, Guarachi hopes to represent the country in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“I’m very humbled by this award and I am so grateful to the Step One family for their support for my career and I am proud to represent them around the world,” Guarachi said.

Step One Automotive Group would also like to thank the community partners who made the grand opening party possible, including the American Heart Association, Celebrations Florals, Cigar Factory, Classic City Catering, Dharma Blue, Epic Photo Booth Co., The Fiesta of Five Flags Organization, General Motors, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Breeze Optimist Club, Gulf Power, Navarre Beach Chamber of Commerce, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, Pensacola Catholic High School,  Pensacola Humane Society, Pensacola Ice Flyers, Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola Symphony, Showtime Events, SunTrust Bank, TSC Productions, WEAR-TV, and the entire Whibbs family.