According to the 13WIBW news broadcast, longtime motorcycle dealership, Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka has closed its doors, less than two years after a new owner purchased it. A 13 NEWS crews visited the dealership at SW 21st and Topeka Blvd. Wednesday morning. They found the building locked. Employees outside in the parking lot declined to be interviewed, but confirmed they were told of the closing earlier in the day.
Owner and CEO Steven Towers (of Towers’ Harley-Davidson Group) chose to shut down the location as a strategic decision to reallocate resources and focus on other growth markets. Planned relocations to the former West Ridge 8 Theatres were also cancelled.
Originally opened in March 1949 by Henry Patterson, the dealership remained in the Patterson family for 75 years across four generations before being sold to Steven and Nicole Towers. In the Dealernews studio at SEMA, Evel Knievel Experience founder, Mike Patterson said, “It’s the end of an era for our family dealership but the beginning of Evel Knievel’s continuing legacy in the town that launched the most famous daredevil.”
