Beloved Harley-Davidson dealership up for sale after more than 70 years of ownership by same family
A PROlonged Standing The dealership for Harley-Davidson has started the process of finding a new owner.
The family-run company has decided it’s time to switch ownership after 74 years.
For many years, Hermantown, Minnesota’s 33,000-square-foot Harley-Davidson Sports Center has been a fixture in the Duluth suburb.
As much a museum as a bike store, the Harley-Davidson Sport Center is lined with vintage motorcycles, old photographs, and Harley-Davidson memorabilia.
In 1951, Richard Kachelmyer bought the future Harley-Davidson Sport Center, and the company has been in the family ever since.
They now claim that a new owner is needed.
READ MORE ON HARLEY-DAVIDS
‘Leaked’ Harley-Davidson plans reveal cult brand to release 7 new bikes
New Harley-Davidson dealership to open in just days after spate of store closures
Since 1997, when his mother passed away, Richard’s son Dennis and his wife Suzanne have operated the store.
Richard’s personal motorcycle was a blue 1946 FL Knucklehead with a red sidecar, one of the bikes on show in the store.
Dennis said to Northern News Now, “I grew up in that red sidecar.”
Dad didn’t have an automobile to drive before 1968.
Dennis has been employed at the shop since the 1960s and is currently in his 70s.
In 1966, Dennis painted the storefront as a child, as seen in a black-and-white image shared on Facebook.
The Kachelmyers moved the store over seven miles inland from its original location by Lake Superior.
In December, Dennis and Suzanne posted on Facebook that the store will be closing permanently.
But this week, the store was put up for sale.
Despite their decision to wind down the business, the couple announced that they would be filling existing orders, honoring gift cards, and liquidating the remaining inventory.
Motorcycle equipment tips
BEFORE saddling a motorcyle and taking to the streets, drivers should know exactly what equipment is necessary to stay safe.
It’s recommended that riders protect themselves as much as possible before they race down the highway alongside other cars.
This means that every driver should absolutely have a high-quality motorcycle helmet that fits perfectly.
It’s also crucial to try and cover as much skin as possible, so pants and a riding jacket should be worn at all times.
Cautious drivers can go the extra step by always keeping riding gloves on hand and by wearing boots on the road.
Cycle Worldputs it this way, “When you are trying to justify spending your money on gear, just ask yourself this question: What is that body part worth? and then allocate funds appropriately.”
Hundreds of customers, former employees, and Hermantown residents expressed their gratitude for the family business on Facebook.
This is bad news for the biker community. Good luck to all the employees who are affected by this. Hopefully somebody comes through and buys this business for us owners. We have no other option close to us for our bikes, one shopper wrote.
Thank you for many of my motorcycles and 73 years of unforgettable memories! another fan commented.
Too bad, many memories from this place, great service & great people, another wrote.Good luck all, you will be missed.
The change of ownership for Sport Center follows a trend of Harley-Davidson dealership sales andclosures.
Earlier this year, a dealership in Topeka, Kansaschanged owners after 75-yearsof ownership by the same family.
In December 2024, a Rock Hill, South Carolina dealership was sold by thefamily that had owned the shop since 1961.
For family-owned businesses facing economic hardship – like the Hermantown location – the decision to sell isn t an easy one.
It saddens us to react to these challenging economic times, being faced with the difficult decision to close our doors and wind down the business, Dennis and Suzanne said in the Facebook post.
Read More on The US Sun
Israel is ‘on the brink’ of ceasefire deal with terrorists Hamas, Biden says
LeBron James in surprise LA Lakers exit talk as NBA rivals line up trade
It has been a true privilege to have been a part of so many lives, sharing excitement behind the handlebars of our Harleys!
The community expressed its hopes online that the business will continue to meet its motorcycle needs in the hands of its new owners.