A well-known Harley-Davidson dealership has shut its longstanding location, but there’s a silver lining for enthusiasts.
The proprietor of the storied outlet on Route 66 in St. Louis has acquired a local rival, merging both into a single entity under a fresh name.
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Credit: Googlemaps
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Credit: Getty
Doc’s Harley-Davidson, established in 1955 and located at 930 S. Kirkwood Road, is owned by Evan and Dina Schipper, a couple from Indiana who manage several Harley dealerships across the Midwest.
They have evened the playing field with their latest acquisition—Gateway Harley-Davidson, once a principal competitor of Doc’s.
Now, both dealerships have combined at Gateway’s previous site.
According to Biz Journals, the new dealership will operate as St. Louis Harley-Davidson, having opened last Tuesday at the former Gateway location.
Expect updates to signage and plans for renovations in the near future.
The consolidation decision, supported by Harley-Davidson itself, arises from the perception that St. Louis has an excess of Harley-Davidson dealerships.
The area, known for its substantial Harley community and loyal following, initially drew them to invest in a dealership in St. Louis.
Other local dealership options include Green Mount Road Harley-Davidson in O’Fallon, Illinois; Ted’s Motorcycle World in Alton; St. Charles Harley-Davidson in St. Charles; and Gold Star Harley-Davidson in Festus.
“In order to successfully navigate the current business conditions and financial challenges presented by the economy, we faced obstacles that led to the merger,” Schipper stated.
“We finally managed to get everything aligned to make this happen.”
He also expresses hope that long-time patrons from both locations will embrace the new dealership.
“I believe it’s not just the site that defines a dealership,” he remarked.
“In my opinion, it’s the people who work there and the relationships fostered between St. Louis customers and employees that matter most.
“Our customers will continue to see familiar faces from Doc’s Harley-Davidson and Gateway Harley-Davidson at the new St. Louis Harley-Davidson.”
All of Doc’s employees transitioned to the new location, and nearly all but five Gateway employees who opted to leave will stay, resulting in about 40 combined employees.
Schipper anticipates that this merger will streamline operations and that the business will expand to a level that allows for future hiring.
Harley-Davidson Closures in 2024
There are over 650 Harley-Davidson dealerships across the United States.
However, several locations have closed in 2024 for various reasons, some with little explanation.
Below is a list of some Harley-Davidson dealerships that have closed this year along with their reasons for closure:
A location in San Francisco closed in June 2024 after 110 years due to ‘chaos’ caused by new management.
Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, shut its doors in September 2024 with no specific reason stated.
Harley-Davidson’s legacy location in New York City closed on September 28, 2024, as the owner cited economic issues.
Reiman’s Harley-Davidson dealership in Kewanee, Illinois, shut down in October 2024 after the owners sold the business to the Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership in Peoria, Illinois.
Another Illinois dealership closed in November 2024.
Moreover, the dealership in West Bend, Wisconsin, is temporarily closing for the season from November 2 until April 1, 2024.
In 2025, Hideout Harley-Davidson in Missouri announced its closure at the end of March.