Murgado Automotive has officially kicked off construction on what it bills as the largest Porsche dealership in Illinois, a standalone giant rising on the Motor Werks campus in Barrington. The new building is set to tower over the existing showroom and redraw the commercial edge of town, while also revving back up a familiar local argument over size, noise and truck traffic.
According to the Chicago Business Journal, the planned facility clocks in at roughly 134,000 square feet, with a basement designed to stash as many as 90 vehicles. The project will replace the current Porsche showroom on the Motor Werks campus, which the outlet reports is about 6,900 square feet. Murgado marked the ceremonial groundbreaking this week as crews start site work.
Long-running neighborhood debate
Not everyone in Barrington is thrilled about the mega-showroom. Neighbors have repeatedly raised issues about noise, early-morning car alarms and delivery truck traffic during a string of public hearings as Motor Werks pursued its expansion plans, according to the Daily Herald. The concerns turned into something of a local saga, with residents warning the project could turn their corner of town into a round-the-clock car hub.
Local TV cameras captured residents trying to halt construction and showed owner Mario Murgado addressing those complaints at a plan commission meeting, per FOX 32 Chicago. After months of back-and-forth, the village’s plan commission issued only partial recommendations, and officials began processing ordinance changes tied specifically to the Motor Werks campus.
Who’s behind the project
The Motor Werks campus already houses six franchises and lists its primary address as 1475 S. Barrington Road on the dealership’s own site. Murgado Automotive acquired Motor Werks in 2023 and has been steadily growing its presence in the Chicago area, according to company information. The new Porsche store is being framed as a regional showcase for the brand and as a centerpiece for Motor Werks’ broader luxury lineup.
Timeline and next steps
Village documents show ordinance filings tied to the Porsche development, including Ordinance No. 24-4467, referencing parcels along S. Barrington Road and E. Dundee Road. Those filings signal that municipal sign-offs and permit work are still moving through the pipeline, per the Village of Barrington.
Mario Murgado has previously told local media that a separate, larger parking structure associated with the broader Motor Werks build-out could take five to 10 years to complete, according to FOX 32 Chicago. As for the main Porsche dealership, the Chicago Business Journal reports that the company has not publicly announced a target completion date.
