Left to Right Morgan (Mo) Kirk, Cannon Kirk, Bill Sloan, Curtis Sloan, Matt Sloan and Julie Link
Landmark dealership Sloan’s Motorcycle & ATV is changing hands from founder Bill Sloan, Curtis Sloan, Matt Sloan and Julie Link to another dealership dynasty — Cannon Kirk of Kirk Brothers Powersports and the Kirk Auto Group. A perennial Dealernews Top 100 winner (2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992), the iconic store was one of the first dealers to be featured on the cover… Bill with his Gold Wing in recognition of his success as a top selling touring bike dealer!
Bill’s love of motorcycles began over 80 years ago when he purchased his first Harley-Davidson. A successful banker, Bill decided to develop a side-business to support his racing habit in 1960. His passion for the sport developed into a multi-generational, family-owned business. The dealership grew from a one-line, 1,000 square foot store to a multi-brand 55,000 square foot dealership at the heart of all things motorcycling in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Following the sale, Curtis Sloan, President & CEO commented, “As a third-generation, family-owned dealership, selling was not on our radar. However, family health issues brought us to consider a transition. Juan Pardo of Performance Brokerage Services visited with us at our dealership and helped us understand the buy-sell process and how we could maximize the value of many decades of labor. Not only was Juan and his team instrumental in finding the perfect buyer that fit with our family values and culture, but he also made sure we had the right team of attorneys and financial advisors in place.”
Curtis added, “Having never gone through a buy-sell, and 64 years of hard work and success in the community, emotions ran the spectrum… we appreciate Juan’s calming personality. That steady, warm and professional demeanor helped us get this deal to a successful close. The Sloan family would highly recommend Juan Pardo and his team at Performance Brokerage Services.”
The buyer concurs with Curtis. “I want to thank Juan Pardo of Performance Brokerage Services for presenting and guiding us through the Sloan’s Motorcycle & ATV buy-sell process. Having been a long-time family owned dealer in Mississippi, we knew this opportunity was a perfect fit for our growing group. As with most deals, there are complexities that come up, and his professionalism and availability helped us get this deal to a successful conclusion.”
Kirk Auto Group and Kirk Brothers Powersports have been a family-owned business for 50 years, operating over a dozen locations in Mississippi. Owner, Cannon Kirk, is a second-generation dealer, proudly carrying on the tradition of commitment to customers and community set forth by his father, Dynamite Kirk. Dynamite was selling cars for only 5 years before purchasing a local Ford dealership in 1973. Cannon, at the age of three, would play at the dealership, and from a very early age, knew he wanted to work with his father. In 1991, after Cannon graduated college, he began working for his father, and in 1993, took over the day-to-day operations of the dealership. Currently, Cannon’s two sons, Tyler and Morgan, have joined the family business, carrying on the legacy.
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of more than 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner, and Juan Pardo, Partner of the Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction.
“It was a true privilege to represent the Sloan family and a dealership with such a great history in central Tennessee,” concludes Pardo. “It was important to find a buyer with similar values and family culture that has been instilled in Sloan’s Motorcycle & ATV for many decades. I wish the Kirk family continued success as they grow their powersports group, and I thank the Sloan family for allowing us the opportunity to represent them in selling their dealership.”
Sloan’s Motorcycle & ATV will remain at its current location at 2233 NW Broad Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
