BROOK PARK, Ohio -- A Harley-Davidson dealership should help rev up the comeback of Brookpark Road.
Owner Mike Davis held a private groundbreaking ceremony this month for Rock-n-Roll City Harley-Davidson. He plans to move the dealership next summer from 14550 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland to more than five vacant acres at Brookpark Road and West 150th Street.
Mike Dolan, Brook Park's economic development commissioner, said Harley will "help kick-start the redevelopment of Brookpark Road." Actually, the road is already rumbling back as a motor mecca. Ganley Auto opened a dealership here last year, and the Collection Auto Group is in the middle of a big expansion of its Airport Campus.
Says Davis, "We're moving to increase our visibility and access." His new site backs on Interstate 480, just south of a westbound ramp, not far from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It's a bigger site than his old one, with more room to host events, such as motorcycle shows,and road rallies for civic causes.
The owner says, "We're building a full-service, state-of-the-art Harley-Davidson dealership." He's spending an estimated $4 to $4.5 million and raising a 40,000-square foot building. He plans to keep a couple hundred motorcycles in stock and order others on demand. He'll also sell parts, accessories, helmets, motorcycling clothes and more.
Davis is getting a $200,000 grant from Brook Park to move in. He expects to employ 45 to 50 people here. He predicts at least $14 million in sales and at least $1.4 million in payroll.
His new property straddles The Geek Shop, a vehicle repair business at the northeast corner of Brookpark and W. 150th. Davis has driveways to both streets.
Davis also owns Harley-Davidson dealerships in Cuyahoga Falls, Sandusky and Dover.
In 2001, Brook Park took over the road's north side from Cleveland as part of a complex deal for a runway at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that never arose. The suburb inherited some adult entertainment businesses, and a few still linger. But Dolan thinks they may give way to restaurants and other businesses that appeal to the road's rising ranks of vehicle shoppers.
Dolan is also trying to bring a small industrial business from Cleveland to Brookpark. And he's posting For Sale signs this week on several vacant properties the city owns around town, including about four acres on Brookpark.