Selma Toyota’s newly-built service center is getting some action on its first day open to the public. Photo by David Castellon

Despite some windows that still needed cleaning and some technicians running around finishing last-minute tasks to get the phone system up and running, Selma’s newest car dealership opened for business this morning.

Well, not exactly a NEW dealership. Toyota of Selma has operated for more than two decades along the east side Highway 99, off the Floral Avenue exit. Over the past few days, cars and staff have moved to their new location, just a few blocks away on the west side of the freeway.

Though the dealership opened today, a ribbon-cutting ceremony isn’t scheduled until Nov. 20, said Sophia Fahrney, marketing director for the dealership, along with Swanson-Fahrney Ford, Fahrney Buick GMC, and a used car lot that remain on Highland Avenue, on the east side of 99.

Her father-in-law and president of the automotive group, Gerald Fahrney, said in an interview earlier this year that there wasn’t enough room to run all those new car dealerships on a 4.3-acre parcel and grow, prompting him to build the new 20,000-square-foot Toyota dealership on six acres of a 63-acre parcel he bought about eight years ago next to the Garden Vineyard Plaza and Selma Square shopping centers.

The new dealership includes a road off Floral Avenue, behind the Walmart Supercenter, leading to it.

With the added room and outdoor space for cars, Sophia Farhney said plans are to increase the dealership’s new car inventory.