Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/765954
www.PowersportsBusiness.com MOTORCYCLE Powersports Business • December 26, 2016 • 23 Ducati dealership relocates to new Seattle location Moves to Redmond from former location in Bellevue As the premier Italian motorcycle leader Ducati commemorates its 90th anniversary this year, fans in the Pacific Northwest will have even more reason to celebrate, as the brand announced the grand opening of a new exclusive Ducati dealership in Redmond, Washington. With expanded parking and a centralized retail storefront at the Red- mond Town Center, the new facility positions Ducati for strong growth in the Seattle area. "This year we broke new ground in the cruiser and adventure markets with the new XDiavel and the Multistrada Enduro models supporting our efforts in reaching new cus- tomers, and we just unveiled seven new prod- ucts for 2017, so there's increasing momentum for Ducati," said Jason Chinnock, chief execu- tive officer of Ducati North America. "Seattle and its surrounding communities are known for both outdoor recreation opportunities and technological innovation, two things Ducati also holds dear as core values. We hope the new dealership in Redmond will give local enthusiasts a chance to embrace our high-tech advancements and experience some of the great roads the Pacific Northwest has to offer." "The motorcycle lifestyle is important to us," said Howard Crow, owner of Ducati Redmond and an avid motorcycle racer. "This new location is an incredible opportu- nity to reach new audiences, including those who frequent the Redmond Town Center who may have not previously been exposed to the brand. There's a lot of foot traffic in the vicinity, and perhaps we'll be able to get folks who have always had an interest in motorcycling to hop on one of our bikes and learn how to ride." The move to Redmond Town Center relo- cates and renames Ducati Redmond from its previous location, Ducati Bellevue, in Bel- levue, Washington. PSB Milwaukee Harley-Davidson gets new owner Windy City Motorcycle Group, a privately held motorcycle company, has purchased Milwaukee Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The group also owns and operates other Harley-Davidson dealerships in Illinois. "I think Harley-Davidson understands that a sophisticated, multi-store dealer/ operator has the ability to provide far more superior customer service by being able to invest more heavily in infrastructure, operations, employee training and customer support mechanisms," said COO Justin Johnson. "And while the single store opera- tor has certain benefits, it is very tough to remain viable in the modern economy and to provide the level of customer service and experience that our dedicated and loyal cus- tomers have grown to demand and deserve. We bring owner operators into our family of dealerships so the riders and market get the best of both worlds, personal involvement and sophistication." Windy City Motorcycle Group is actively pursuing other acquisitions, but is excited to bring Milwaukee Harley-Davidson back to prominence in Milwaukee. "We will not grow just for the sake of growth," principal Ozzie Giglio said. "We will add to our family of dealerships only when there is a clear synergy, and Milwaukee makes all the sense in the world to us. Our priority is providing world-class customer experiences." Now with nine dealerships, Windy City Motorcycle Group has become the third- largest dealership group in the U.S., behind RideNow Powersports and Freedom Power- sports. Windy City's Illinois lineup includes Wild Fire Harley-Davidson (Villa Park); City Limits Harley-Davidson (Palatine); Illinois Harley-Davidson (Countryside); Fox River Harley-Davidson (St. Charles); Windy City Harley-Davidson, Chicago (O'Hare Airport); Windy City Triumph (St. Charles); Starved Rock Harley-Davidson (Ottawa); and DeKalb Harley-Davidson (DeKalb). PSB The new Ducati dealership in Redmond, Washington, anchors the Town Center shopping area.