BEEVILLE — Aztec Chevrolet is asking customers to be patient as the company expands its location on the U.S. Highway 181 Bypass.

The hope is that when the work is completed, shopping for cars, parts and accessories and having a General Motors vehicle serviced will be much easier.

General Manager Louie Alaniz and his father, Luis, said the expanded service department will have another 17 bays for mechanics. That will more than double the 12 bays now located in the existing service area.

The younger Alaniz said the current service area will remain in place to handle any overflow in the new center on busy days.

When asked how much the business is investing in the project, Alaniz grinned and said, “a lot.”

Service technicians will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to assure quicker service for the dealership’s customers.

For customers who find themselves waiting for their vehicles to be serviced, Aztec will have new waiting areas and an area for children. Parents will find Wi-Fi and other forms of entertainment while they wait.

When the “Phase 1” service expansion is completed by the end of this year, Alaniz said work will begin on “Phase 2.”

That will entail replacing the existing showroom with a new 1,400-square-foot facility and another 1,400 square feet of office space.

That will provide the dealership with a total of 2,800 square feet of sales space.

Alaniz said the new building also will be taller than the existing space.

The sales floor and offices are expected to be completed by the end of May 2013.

Alaniz said his family also is keeping as much of the money being spent as possible in the community.

“We’re using all local contractors,” he said. George Cano Construction will be the general contractor for the project and all his subcontractors will be local businesses.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.