Lost Another One

[MikeWa]

http://media.pnwlocalnews.com/images/380*570/79623renton120211RentonMotorcyclesWEB1.jpg

Scott Lee and his wife Gini picked up a Kawasaki motorcycle Tuesday morning that they had on consignment at Renton Motorcycles.

Dean A. Radford/Renton Reporter

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Renton Motorcycle Co. on East Valley Road closes; Renton Honda to relocate there

 

 

By DEAN RADFORD

Renton Reporter Editor

November 29, 2011 · Updated 5:06 PM

 

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Renton Motorcycle Co. closed for business Tuesday to make way for the eventual relocation of Renton Honda, now on Grady Way, to its site on East Valley Road.

Employees of Renton Motorcycle were told of the closure Tuesday morning at a regular staff meeting; later, one of them expressed shock at the closure.

 

The Renton Motorcycle Co. and Renton Honda are owned by Bob Lanphere. He also owns Downtown Harley Davidson next door to Renton Motorcycles, which remains in business, said Terry Stallcop, general manager of both businesses.

 

Also remaining open is Mick Kelly's restaurant at the Full Throttle Bar and Grill, which overlooks the Renton Motorcycles showroom.

 

"We have built a customer base that's not dependent on the motorcycle customer base," said owner Lorraine Tores, so her lunch business won't be affected. She also draws customers from the Harley Davidson dealership next door.

 

The economy played a role in the closure of Renton Motorcycles, Stallcop said.

 

However, an earlier plan would have had Renton Motorcycles and Renton Honda share the large building, he said, a plan that failed to get the OK of the Honda corporation. He said it didn't make sense to move Renton Motorcycles elsewhere.

 

Renton Honda won't move for 18 months to 24 months, Stallcop said, during which it will seek permits from the City of Renton to remodel the Renton Motorcycle space. Renton Honda is one of the anchors of the AutoMall the city created on Grady Way.

 

Renton Honda dealership underwent a $9 million expansion and renovation about four years ago.

 

Stallcop said the location on East Valley Road will provide better street access for customers. Renton Honda now is at the busy intersection with Rainier Avenue.

 

Lanphere also leases the four separate parcels on which his Honda dealership is located. Now, he can consolidate on land he owns, Stallcop said.

 

That stretch of East Valley Road is also becoming a busy retail area and there are two other auto dealerships in the area, he said. Younker Nissan and Younker Mitsubishi are nearby.

 

The decision to close Renton Motorcycles was made last week, with managers told Saturday, Stallcop said. The business employs 28; about 10 of them will remain at the store through December to help with closing down the business. Stallcop said the hope is to find positions for the employees elsewhere within the company.

 

Customers can pick up special-order parts, cancel pre-paid maintenance contracts, cash in Renton Motorcycle gift cards and pick up bikes that are in for service, he said.

 

"We will make everyone whole," he said.

 

Customers can reach the company at rmcreception@rentonmotorcycles.com or at 425-226-4320.

 

One longtime customer, Scott Lee of Rainier Beach, stopped by Tuesday morning to retrieve a Kawasaki motorcycle he had on consignment at Renton Motorcycles. He's also a customer of Downtown Harley Davidson.

 

"It's a sad situation," he said. His wife Gini agreed. "They've been very good to us," she said.

 

 

Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5050.

[awsmsrv]

Wow. That's the first I've heard of it. Pretty big dealer to just shut its doors like that. We bought our Yamaha Waverunner with trailer & Honda Reflex scooter there, among other things. Sorry to see it go.

[Sideoftheroad]

Am I missing something? 1 person owns both Renton Motorcycles and Renton Honda. They are moving R.H. into the R.M. facility. Why don't they just flip flop and move R.M. into the R.H. facility? Wonder why they said it doesn't make since to move.

 

Not sure moving would be the smartest move, but never know until you do it. I am not sure of the distance between the 2 locations, they could lose some Honda customers due to the move. Also You have a specific bike line (Honda) that you have to appeal to a specific customer base whereas R.M. sounds like it would have a broader product line. Just gonna take a guess at this w/in a few years probably won't have a Honda dealership there either if they are blaming this on the economy unless Honda corp. has some sort of assistance plan.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Am I missing something? 1 person owns both Renton Motorcycles and Renton Honda. They are moving R.H. into the R.M. facility. Why don't they just flip flop and move R.M. into the R.H. facility? Wonder why they said it doesn't make since to move.

 

Not sure moving would be the smartest move, but never know until you do it. I am not sure of the distance between the 2 locations, they could lose some Honda customers due to the move. Also You have a specific bike line (Honda) that you have to appeal to a specific customer base whereas R.M. sounds like it would have a broader product line. Just gonna take a guess at this w/in a few years probably won't have a Honda dealership there either if they are blaming this on the economy unless Honda corp. has some sort of assistance plan.

 

As I understand from friends involved in motorcycle shops is that if Honda does not want to have one of their machines in the same room as a Yamaha or what ever... you add to your building you have a second floor or separate area to display that product.... or... you cannot have any of that product ... is you lose the "dealership" rights. In short if the manufacturer says stand on your head in a corner and you do not.... they take their equipment elsewhere.

In this economy can anyone afford to have 2 buildings or showrooms? It is getting harder by the day around here and our economy is as strong as anywhere in North America... not that that is aying much. In a few years.... who knows.... we all hope it is brighter.

[playboy]

The local Honda dealer here closed up and moved in with the Yamaha dealer same showroom. All the bikes on one floor basically a row of Yamaha and a row of Honda name just changed from Yamaha Sports center to H&W Powersports IMO the service has kinda gone down hill. Just my

[GolfVenture]

Hmmm. Hinshaw Motorcycle Co in Auburn sells Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis, Victorys, KTMs and Leham Trikes all in the same show room.

[MikeWa]

It is the Honda cars that is going to take over the motorcycle facility. The same guy owns Downtown HD, Renton Motorcycles, and Renton Honda cars. He also owns the large property where Renton Motorcycle and Downtown HD have separate buildings. In an effort to save money on rent for his Honda car dealership he closed Renton Motorcycle and will move the car dealership into that facility.

 

Renton Motorcycle was a very large motorcycle superstore. They carried a broad range of Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and who knows what all else motorcycles, ATVs, jet skys and snow mobiles. A real candy store. At one time the building was a Home Depot or some such home center. So you can imagine how many toys it took to fill the facility. It was a nice place to wander around from time to time. It is where I bought my Venture and I was always treated fairly there.

 

They had a restaurant and pub, Mick Kelly's, inside overlooking the massive showroom. It had balcony dining and meeting rooms etc. They say they are going to remain open. But that is anybodies guess.

 

Downtown Harley Davidson which is in a separate building say they will be unaffected. That also remains to be seen.

 

Whatever the logic Renton Motorcycle is no more. And we have lost another Yamaha dealer.

Mike