Attention all car lovers: a new business, Patriot INFINITI of Merrillville, has recently rolled into the Region. The new dealership opened at the beginning of 2023 and already has a plethora of tremendous reviews. Between enthusiastic leadership, a passionate team, and a mission like no other, Patriot INFINITI is here to take the wheel and drive the community toward a bright future.
“We’re not your typical dealership,” said Mark Mizera, executive manager.
Patriot INFINITI is led by some incredible individuals. The business was started by Shawn Kohli whose love of the industry is unrivaled. Kohli started selling cars straight out of high school at the age of 18 as a way to pay his way through college. His plan was to become a lawyer; he took the LSAT and had all of his law school applications ready to go, but at the last second, he changed his mind. The car industry had a hold on his heart.
“It's been a little over 23 years, and I love it more every day,” said Kohli.
Mizera has been in the car industry for 30 years. He too fell in love with the industry at a young age and can’t imagine what his life would be like without it. He enjoys nothing more than helping a customer find the perfect car and guiding them through all their different options.
“Seeing the smile on someone’s face when they get a new car is so rewarding. I’ve always lived by the idea that customers are for life. This isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. We’re in this for the relationships, and we’re in it to invite customers into our family,” said Mizera.
Patriot INFINITI came to be almost by fate. Kohli currently owns several dealerships throughout the Region. He was approached by a broker that he worked with in the past and was asked if he would like to take the INFINITI dealership in Merrillville over and give it a revamp. Kohli jumped at the opportunity and within four months sealed the deal.
There was no better way for Kohli to breathe new life into the dealership than by giving it a new name. Both of Kohli’s parents were born and raised in India. Hoping to give their future children more opportunities, the couple worked hard to move to the United States. Kohli decided to name his new dealership Patriot in honor of his parents’ journey and all the amazing opportunities he’s been given thanks to their move to America.
“I'm very grateful that my parents moved to the United States a few years before I was born. I love this country and the opportunities that are provided here. You don't get chances like this anywhere else in the world,” said Kohli.
In line with the patriotic theme, Patriot INFINITI was built around dreams. The Patriot INFINITI team strives to not just help people buy a car but also to make their biggest dreams possible.
“Our goal is to put dreams in driveways. Your car is the second largest investment most people make in life after their house, so it should be a fun process. It should be something people look forward to doing—not a chore,” said Mizera.
The first thing a customer will notice when walking into Patriot INFINITI is its team. Patriot INFINITI has a diverse staff that includes people who have been in the car industry anywhere from two weeks to 20 years. Regardless of how long they’ve been around cars, each employee loves what they do, and that makes all the difference.
“We come to work to have fun. There are two types of workers: the worker who is disappointed they have to go back to work on Monday and the worker who is excited they get to go back to work. Our team is definitely made up of the latter. That’s the type of culture and environment we have,” said Mizera.
The Patriot INFINITI team prides itself on providing the highest quality service possible. That often means going above and beyond to make things easier for the customer.
“We’re transparent and we want to work with you. If you have a question or if you have your heart set on a special car that we don’t have on the lot or if your work schedule is super crazy and you need some flexibility, come and talk to us. We’re here to make things possible,” said Mizera.
Everyone at Patriot INFINITI can’t wait to continue building relationships with the community. The dealership recently held a grand opening celebration, and its team was overjoyed to meet so many unique individuals. It’s because of the community that they get to come to work every day and do what they love, and they are endlessly grateful.
“There are so many different people that walk through our door. We see everyone from firefighters to business owners to farmers to CEOs; it’s such a broad variety of people we get to meet, and it’s so refreshing to hear about where they’ve been in life and what they’ve done,” said Mizera.
Ultimately, Patriot INFINITI is completely changing the car industry within the Region. Patriot INFINITI is the place to go for anyone looking not just for a new car but a memorable and enjoyable experience.
“We’re so excited to be here in Merrillville and we’re here to serve the community in any way we can. Please stop by and see us,” said Kohli.
To learn more about Patriot INFINITI of Merrillville, visit www.infinitimerrillville.com.
