A BELOVED Harley-Davidson dealership is set to shutter for good as 35 years of business come to an abrupt end.
The owner of the historic shop pointed at the harsh realities of winter as he opened up about the end of the decades-long run.
A beloved Harley-Davidson dealership has shut down for good[/caption]
The dealership had a successful 35-year stint before the owners chose to shut it down[/caption]
The Vreeland brothers decided to start the dealership after taking a cross-country road trip[/caption]
The Harley-Davidson dealership in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, about two and a half hours outside Philadelphia, will stop serving customers on September 30.
The shop was founded by owners and brothers Rich and Ray Vreeland in 1990, who said they plotted for 12 years before opening the doors, they told local ABC affiliate WNEP.
Harley enthusiasts themselves, the brothers crafted the plan after a cross-country trip riding their bikes from central Pennsylvania to Daytona Beach, Florida, and then to San Diego, California.
Rich recalls that the two “started collecting Harley-Davidson t-shirts at all the dealerships along the way” of their 9,700-mile ride.
Realizing they had no jobs to return to after quitting them to make the trip, they decided to turn their passion into work and open up a dealership together.
Speaking about their decision to close, the brothers admitted that “winters are tough on the Harley business,” and added that their friends are going away until March.
Combined with not wanting to slog through another offseason, they decided to shut down for good at the end of the month.
The brothers discussed the evolution of the choppers over the decades, and said they “were lucky” if the bikes had “a speedometer and a blinker” 35 years ago.
The two added they’ll miss their relationships with their customers the most, having built them up over years of business dealings.
The Vreelands said their “mission statement was always to make motorcycling fun for everyone,” and hope the shop will be remembered “as a family-owned business” which “actually cared about [its] customers.”
They added that there’s plenty to look forward to in their future despite the end of this massive chapter of their lives.
PERFECT TIMING?
While the Vreelands didn’t mention any frustrations with the Harley-Davidson brand, other dealers have cause for concern.
Earlier this year, former CEO Jochen Zeitz stepped down after key shareholders fumed over high inventory levels and falling sales.
This unexpected and sudden vacuum incited a heated battle for its future leadership, with some investors even pushing to have Zeitz stripped entirely from the board of directors.
Dealers have even been forced to take sides in this power struggle. The National Powersports Dealer Association and the 170 dealerships it represents are aligning with investors who are calling for a major overhaul of the company’s board.
Harley-Davidson closures in 2024
There are over 650 Harley-Davidson dealerships across America.
However, multiple stores have closed for various reasons throughout 2024 – if they give any explanation at all.
Below is a list of some Harley-Davidson locations that have shuttered this year and why they closed their doors:
A San Francisco location closed in June 2024 after 110 years due to ‘chaos’ brought by new management.
Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, closed in September 2024 with no reason given.
Harley-Davidson’s legacy location in New York City closed shop on September 28, 2024, with the owner citing problems with the economy.
Reiman’s Harley-Davidson dealership in Kewanee, Illinois, closed its doors in October 2024 after the owners sold the business to the Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership in Peoria, Illinois.
Another Illinois dealership closed in November 2024.
Plus, the dealership in West Bend, Wisconsin, is temporarily closing for the season from November 2 until April 1, 2024.
In 2025, Hideout Harley-Davidson in Missouri announced it would shutter at the end of March.
Meanwhile, more beloved dealerships are shutting down, like the High Country Harley-Davidson locations in Colorado and Wyoming.
Both locations closed up shop for good in August, with many other dealerships across America being forced to make the same decision this year.
The company reported losses of $117 million in 2024 and a 13% decrease in domestic market share.
The dealership is located in Pennsylvania[/caption]
HOPE ON THE HORIZON?
However, the year isn’t full of bad news for the legendary motorcycle brand. A new dealership opened in Virginia, with a famous face in the Harley-Davidson community attending its opening ceremony.
The brand is also persuading prospective purchasers by slashing prices in its LiveWire all-electric motorcycle model via a promotion running until October, per RideApart.
While the iconic all-American motorcycle brand may be down, it’s doing everything in its power to avoid being counted out.
