Harley-Davidson plans new dealership for east Carson City

Carson City Harley-Davidson will close its North Carson Street dealership and open a new store by March 2007 on 4.5 acres off Research Way near the new freeway, according to the owner.

Dealership owner Richard Tapia, who also owns stores in Lake Tahoe, Merced and Los Banos, Calif., said Tuesday the new location gives him the opportunity to buy the land and construct a 30,000-square-foot building to suit.

"All the traffic from Lake Tahoe will see us," he said. "That makes it a very advantageous position for us. The freeway is one of the key reasons why we picked that location."

The whole project, including land acquisition, will cost $6 million to $7 million. The Harley-Davidson franchise has leased its 30,000-square-foot building on North Carson Street since 1998. Tapia purchased the franchise in 2002.

"One of the things that encouraged us to do this was that we do a lot of major events and we need control of the parking lot, such as for Street Vibrations," Tapia said.

The new dealership will include a large parking lot with room for the special events, which often include bands. The dealership puts on about nine events a year. Tapia said they will have a "Riders Edge" course to teach new motorcycle riders. The dealership has 30 employees, which should increase 15 percent to 20 percent when the new dealership opens. Another building could be constructed after the dealership is completed, he said.

Tapia bought the land from Research Investments LLC last month. He declined to give the land purchase price.

The broker was Sperry Van Ness commercial real estate. Business Bank of Nevada financed the land purchase and development. An architect has not yet been hired. Shaheen Beauchamp Builders is the principal contractor.

Jeff Shaheen, an owner of Shaheen Beauchamp Builders and manager for the Harley-Davidson project, said the dealership's high-profile brand name will be an attractive addition to the Shaheen Business Park, which is at East College Parkway and Research Way.

Shaheen and partner Tom Johnson, members of Research Investments, are selling 11 more acres in the business park, most of which they had purchased from developer Kevin Coleman. He had planned to build commercial flex-space in the area. They closed escrow with Coleman in September.

"I can't release any of the other agreements, but we have other interested national retailers," Shaheen said.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.