Landmark Shelton’s Harley-Davidson of Smithfield and Goldsboro, North Carolina, has changed hands as Shelton and Sharon Davis have retired and sold the operation to Carson Baker of Baker American Cycles and renamed Bulldog Harley-Davidson. Established by the Davis family more than 30 years ago, Shelton’s love of the Harley-Davidson brand combined with Sharon’s commitment and passion for family, created a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
“We are thrilled to finally announce that Carson Baker of Bulldog Harley-Davidson will be the new owner," says the Davis family. "Carson is a phenomenal person, and we are so excited for him to experience the thrills and connections we have established over the years!" Known for his vintage bikes and tremendous knowledge of Harley-Davidson history, which was displayed throughout his dealerships, Shelton had amassed quite a YouTube following. Shelton’s Harley-Davidson was heavily involved in local community outreach with everything from H.O.G. chapter meetings and Toy Runs to bike shows and a Poker Run that supported multiple causes and organizations.
Bringing Baker into the mix was a deal engineered by George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services. “We recently had the pleasure of helping Carson Baker’s father, Fred, sell his Chevrolet store in North Carolina," notes Chaconas. "I reconnected with the family at the Powersports Business Accelerate Conference in Atlanta last year, and suggested they consider buying Shelton’s Harley-Davidson, given the proximity to their other powersports dealerships. The family was excited about the opportunity. Working with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, they were able to close the main dealership in Goldsboro and convert the secondary retail location in Smithfield to a full-service dealership. Closing the Goldsboro location fell in line with the Motor Company’s consolidation movement in over-saturated markets. We are very excited for Carson and his wife to take Shelton’s long legacy to the next level. I also want to thank the Davis family, Sharon, Shelton and their daughter, Hannah, for trusting me again to sell their second family-owned dealership after 33 years."
Following the sale, Carson Baker stated, “My family and I have known George Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Services for many years. I met his associate Courtney Bernhard last year and mentioned I was looking to grow my powersports portfolio. Several months later, I connected with George and we discussed a Harley-Davidson dealership that seemed to be a strategic fit within my existing dealerships. Courtney and George worked to help make this a smooth and successful transaction, and I look forward to working with them in the future as we continue to grow.”
The Smithfield location will remain at its current address at 1043 Outlet Center Drive in Smithfield, North Carolina, and has been renamed Bulldog Harley-Davidson. The Goldsboro location has been closed.
