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Windy City Motorcycle Co. adds Illinois, Wisconsin stores Three Harley-Davidson dealerships — located in Woodstock and McHenry in Illinois and Lake Geneva in Wisconsin — have been acquired by Windy City Motorcycle Company (WCMC). The dealerships are McHenry Harley-David- son, Woodstock Harley-Davidson and Lake Geneva Harley-Davidson. The addition of these stores brings Windy City Motorcycle Company's network to 13 dealerships in Illinois and Wisconsin, including 10 dealerships and three retail cen- ters. With the purchase, Windy City Motor- cycle Group becomes the country's largest Harley-Davidson dealership group. "As in the past, these most recent acquisi- tions by WCMC were thoughtfully executed with the past owners' guidance, and we will retain the existing staff and manage- ment," Ozzie Giglio, principal of Windy City Motorcycle Company, said in a press release. "Our business mission is simple: We want to help entrepreneurs and fellow Harley lov- ers more firmly establish themselves in the community and to ensure their continued growth and success." When The Windy City Motorcycle Company began in 2001, they had just one location and only 14 employees. In the last 16 years, WCMC has grown in both size and spirit, now employing over 400. Along with his wife and business partner, Jill, Giglio has transformed Harley-Davidson locations across Chicagoland and beyond, and in doing so, has created hundreds of jobs … as well as a faithful community of riders who are re-committed to the Harley-Davidson experience. "Our company has helped to breathe life back into the Harley-Davidson brand," said Giglio, who is a passionate Harley-Davidson rider as well as former U.S. captain in the Navy. "Our business model has been simple but effec- tive. We help under-performing dealerships and struggling entrepreneurs to achieve finan- cial strength, and we transform these cities into exciting rider destinations, which is beneficial for our community as a whole." Indeed, WCMC has helped to connect riders from all over the globe. Its renowned motorcycle tours offer guided trips to Stur- gis and along Route 66, with riders coming from Europe and Asia to participate. WCMC offers more guided rides than any other motorcycle company in the country, and it also offers free rider education (more than 1,000 students learn to ride each year thanks to WCMC), as well as free winter storage. (Over 3,000 bikes "winter" in the Chicago- land dealerships.) Most importantly, Windy City Motorcy- cle Company prides itself on being a haven for riders. "My wife Jill and I are both devoted Harley- Davidson riders, and I believe our love of riding has largely helped to contribute to our growth. We have earned the trust and loyalty of so many riders because they realize that we share their same passion and background." The Windy City Motorcycle Company offers a personalized rider experience that ensures each client's needs are met, whether they are seeking a new bike, a repair, mer- chandise, or simply to become part of a rid- ing community. "Thanks to our many locations, we are best positioned in the industry to not only offer competitive prices and a highly-trained staff, but also to offer an enhanced rider expe- rience," Giglio said. "Our size and scope mean that riders never have to worry about breakdowns or finding engine parts when they are on the road. Whether you need to buy a part in McHenry and return it in Mil- waukee or you want to rent a bike in Palatine and return it to Woodstock, our large family of dealerships makes that possible." PSB www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • February 13, 2017 • 5 Three Harley-Davidson dealerships sold to dealer group EBR Motorcycles, LLC ("EBR"), located in East Troy, Wisconsin, announced that it was due to begin closing down at the end of the month. According to a press release, EBR will con- tinue to honor warranties and provide techni- cal and parts support to current dealers and riders who bought motorcycles manufactured by EBR. EBR will continue to review strategic alternatives with interested investors regarding production operations. According to the company, "The decision was a tough one for EBR as it has been solely focused on the growth and building EBR for success. The team at EBR has worked tirelessly making every effort to build the company. There is no fault on any of the team at EBR for this decision. They and their families have our deepest gratitude for their efforts and dedica- tion to EBR. This difficult decision was based primarily on EBR facing significant headwinds with signing new dealers, which is key to sales and growth for a new company. "In addition, EBR has had limited produc- tion in 2016 and 2017 that was under goal. The combination of slow sales and industry announcements of other major OEM brands closing or cutting production only magnified the challenges faced by EBR." Remaining 2017 and 2016 EBR motorcycles are available from EBR's top dealers. A sale of production equipment and excess parts will start in March. PSB EBR Motorcycles is shutting down