Local landmark Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been sold by Jan Cox to Carson Baker and renamed “Dog House Harley-Davidson”. The dealership will remain at its current location at 1178 Galleria Boulevard in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The family-owned and operated dealership was founded in 2006 by the Cox family. Reflecting on her years of ownership, Jan Cox expressed her appreciation for the loyal customers and community members who supported the business throughout the years. “We had a strong run catering to riders from York County, Charlotte, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and beyond. It is our hope that the new owner will be welcomed as they continue this service. It is with humble gratitude that we wish the best to our customers, the community and our staff members.”
The Cox family’s legacy in the motorcycle industry dates back to 1961, with the founding of Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro by Jan’s father-in-law, Recil Cox. This dealership remains operational today and holds the distinction of being the longest-running family-owned Harley-Davidson dealership in North Carolina.
George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner and Courtney A. Bernhard, Partner of the Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction. “In 2015, I had the privilege of representing the Cox family in the sale of Cox’s Northern Tier Harley-Davidson to Pete Eisenhauer,” says Chaconas. “Over the years, I kept in touch with Jan to see when she might be ready to sell Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Rock Hill. After nearly 20 years of ownership, she was ready to retire. It was an honor to represent the Cox family again and sell to Carson Baker, the owner of Baker VTwin2. This marks the second Harley-Davidson dealership I’ve sold to Carson. I also want to thank my partner, Courtney Bernhard, for her invaluable assistance in facilitating the sale. I wish Jan all the best in her retirement and look forward to helping Carson continue to grow in the near future.”
Carson Baker has had a passion for motorcycles since early childhood. He received his first motorcycle as a Christmas gift at age three, and his love for motorized vehicles grew from there. “I have always been infatuated by anything with a motor,” said Carson, who spent his formative years riding on his family’s 100-acre farm. After earning his degree from Coastal Carolina University, Carson worked at his father’s Chevrolet dealership before deciding to pursue his passion for powersports. In 2014, he opened Baker American Cycles in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and over the years, expanded his business through a series of acquisitions, including Baker Motorsports in Fayetteville, Battleship Cycles & Marine in Wilmington, and Bulldog Harley-Davidson in Smithfield, North Carolina.
Courtney Bernhard added, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Carson Baker and his team on another acquisition. There are many moving parts in a buy-sell transaction, and his team played a crucial role in getting this one across the finish line. I look forward to continuing to work with Carson and his team as they expand.”
“This is the second Harley-Davidson dealership that I acquired through George Chaconas and his partner, Courtney Bernhard, of Performance Brokerage Services,” notes Baker. “They were very instrumental in helping me identify my second Harley-Davidson dealership, and were very engaged from start to finish in acquiring Cox’s Harley-Davidson from the longtime owner, the Cox family. George and Courtney’s professionalism, industry knowledge, and expertise contributed significantly to closing this transaction. When you are considering buying or selling a powersports dealership, look no further than George and Courtney to help you through this complex process!”
