Performance Brokerage Services has announced the sale of Sweetwater Harley-Davidson in National City, California from mother and daughter, Marianna and Anastasia Polles to Mark Smith, the second dealership he has purchased in California in the past 2 months.
Sweetwater Harley-Davidson was established in 1985 by Tom Horning, who formed the first H.O.G. Chapter in California. He also helped to establish the Tijuana Toy Run, which is the world’s largest international toy run. Sweetwater Harley-Davidson was the first dealership to feature an in-house tattoo studio on the West Coast and the first dealership to hold a biker church, named the Biker Breakfast. Tom passed in 2008 and left the dealership to his wife and daughter, Marianna and Anastasia Polles.
Following the sale, Marianna shared, “Tom was out riding and came home one day in 1984 and said, ‘I bought a Harley-Davidson dealership!’ which became South Coast Harley-Davidson in a little 2,300 square foot facility on Main Street in Chula Vista.”
A few years later, they expanded into a 15,000 sq. ft. facility on E Street. In March 2008, Tom and his family opened his dream Harley-Davidson dealership with the Grand Opening of Sweetwater Harley-Davidson in National City. The 43,000 sq. ft. dealership features and 8,000 sq. ft. upper deck with an executive office, roof access with tables, benches and room for major events for customers while overlooking San Diego County. Unfortunately, Tom Horning passed away in April 2008, just a month after his grand opening, though Marianna and Anastasia continued to operate the dealership in his vision focusing on innovation and community giveback.
Mark Smith, the new owner of Sweetwater Harley-Davidson, has been a motorcycle enthusiast since 1992 when he built his first Sportster. He also owns and operates Orange County Harley-Davidson in Irvine, California, Harley-Davidson of Fort Worth, Texas and Stampede Harley-Davidson in Burleson, Texas, which was awarded to Smith as a new location in 2015. That was the first newly added point in 8 years.
The dealership will operate under its new name Coronado Beach Harley-Davidson. Smith intends to rebuild the local ridership community and add the EagleRider Motorcycle Rentals & Tours, as well as a Rider’s Academy.
Links:
Coronado Beach Harley-Davidson
Performance Brokerage Services
