Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/536070
12 • July 13, 2015 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com Gotham Motorcycles celebrates grand opening After 101 years, Staten Islanders are able to pur- chase an Indian motorcycle from a local dealer. Gotham Motorcycles celebrated its grand open- ing in April as the only official Indian Motor- cycle dealer in New York City. G o t h a m M o t o r c y c l e s o w n e r M a r k Crescitelli was joined at the celebration by Linda Baran, president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Borough president James Oddo, Sen. Diane Savino, Assembly- woman Nicole Malliotakis and Staten Island Yankees mascot Scooter "The Holy Cow." Crescitelli is the great grandson of Frank Lombardi, who once sold Indian Motorcycles from his Richmond Avenue store back in 1914. At the time, the motorcycles sold for $200. Said Crescitelli, "I wanted to go back to my roots, and I wanted to bring another great motorcycle brand to the city. I started fixing bicycles in my great-grandfather's store and then I graduated to motorcycles. The rest is history." The event also included live music by The Rock Doctors NYC, a barbequed banquet catered by Three Guys Catering and beverages supplied by Champs Beverages. The dealership also carries Victory and Slingshot, and it's the only dealership in New York City selling the Slingshot. The 10,000-square-foot showroom includes a dis- play showroom for new motorcycles as well as Indian, Victory and Slingshot apparel. A few steps beyond there is a pre-owned motorcycle showroom that sells other brands like Harley- Davidson and Honda as well used ATVs and new and pre-owned KYMCO scooters. The rest of the 10,000 square feet is dedicated to Gotham's parts and service area. The dealership's experi- enced technicians repair and perform routine maintenance on Indian, Victory, Harley- Davidson, KYMCO, Slingshot and Buell bikes. "As someone who repre- sents this district I am proud to see all the positive changes taking place," Savino said. "This motorcycle dealership is an important step forward toward serving a community that is quickly growing. This showroom is beautiful and inviting. It makes you want to walk through the doors whether you ride or not. I can easily see Gotham Motor- cycles becoming a place where people gather to share stories and a cup of coffee on a Sunday." Malliotakis added: "Small business is the back bone of our community. It is the engine that makes our economy go. Mark and his family have made an important investment in Tompkinsville, one that signals the great things to come over the next few years." Gotham Motorcycles is located at 364 Bay Street, just blocks away from the St. George Ferry Terminal where the New York Wheel — a 700-foot Ferris wheel that will be taller than the London Eye, will soon break ground. East of the New York Wheel will be Empire Outlets, New York City's first and only retail outlet center that will include an extensive food court with views of the New York City skyline and a boutique hotel. Further east will be Lighthouse Point, which will be a mixed-use residential project. Said Crescitelli: "For me the location was a no brainer. The population of the north shore will increase by more than 30 percent in the next few years, and many of the residents will be young people who prefer not to own a car. A motorcycle is a wonderful transportation option. Motorcycles are smaller, use less gas and are easier on the environment. Motorcycles are the perfect transportation choice for consci- entious New Yorkers." PSB Contributing: Marjorie Kleiman, aka Shadow, Thunder Press Indian Motorcycle returns to New York's Staten Island PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINK PHOTOGRAPHY (2) The ribbon cutting ceremony at Gotham Motorcycles brought out dignitaries including N.Y. Sen. Diane Savino. Gotham Motorcycles owner Mark Crescitelli takes care of media duties during the grand opening.