Lane Splitter Harley-Davidson Sells with Help from Performance Brokerage Services

Performance Brokerage Services, a new car, Harley-Davidson and powersports dealership broker announced the sale of Lane Splitter Harley-Davidson in San Jose, CA, from Jeffrey Soffer to Rich Gargano and Cliff Chester.

Located in Silicon Valley close to the neighborhoods of Morgan Hill and Oakland, it is easily accessible from all freeways. It is one of the largest dealerships in Northern California with millions of dollars in Harley-Davidson inventory and nearly 30,000 square feet. Customers say it is a one stop shop for everything Harley-Davidson. Seller, Jeffrey Soffer also owns Stinger Harley-Davidson in Medina, OH, and Alligator Alley Harley-Davidson in Sunrise, FL, and is best known as a billion-dollar real estate developer in Miami, FL.

Rich and Cliff own multiple Harley-Davidson dealerships, secondary retail locations and alternative retail outlets in California including San Francisco Harley-Davidson, Alcatraz Harley-Davidson at Fisherman’s Wharf, the recently opened Mission Moto Harley-Davidson in Downtown San Francisco, House of Thunder Harley-Davidson in Morgan Hill, West Coast Harley-Davidson in Salinas and West Coast Harley-Davidson on Cannery Row in Monterey. All of the San Francisco Bay Area dealerships in Rich and Cliff’s portfolio were acquired through George Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Services.

Cliff is also the owner of Gold Rush Harley-Davidson in Elko, NV; Oil City Harley-Davidson in Casper, WY; and Snake Harley-Davidson in Twin Falls, ID.

Following the purchase, Rich Gargano commented, “When I bought my first Harley-Davidson dealership through George Chaconas several years ago, I never thought that with George’s help I would acquire three more stores with my partner Cliff Chester. If it wasn’t for George, my lifelong dream of building a Harley-Davidson portfolio would not have come true. I am very happy and grateful to have developed a great relationship with George Chaconas and Performance Brokerage Services.”

The dealership will remain at its current location at 1551 Parkmoor Avenue, San Jose, California 95128.

George C. Chaconas, the exclusive agent for this transaction and the head of the National Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services commented, “The most rewarding part of my job is being involved in life changing events. When I met Rich for the first time, he expressed his interest in buying a Harley-Davidson dealership. Only a few years later, he is the proud co-owner of an entire Harley-Davidson dealership group in the Bay Area. Between Rich and Cliff, they have accomplished so much in such a short period of time and I am grateful to have been part of it.”

Link: Performance Brokerage Services

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.