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UPDATE:
Historic Harley-Davidson Dealership in Topeka Closes After 77 Years as Owner Cites Business Strategy
TOPEKA, Kansas — A historic Harley-Davidson dealership in Topeka has permanently closed its doors, ending a 77-year run in the Kansas capital as its owner shifts resources toward other markets.
Towers’ Historic Harley-Davidson, located at 2047 SW Topeka Blvd., shut down Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Owner and CEO Steve Towers announced the closure in a press release, describing it as a strategic business decision following an evaluation of the dealership’s performance, market conditions and long-term outlook.
According to Towers, the decision was driven by the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its operations and concentrate resources in markets offering the greatest opportunities for sustainable growth.
“Closing a dealership is never a decision we take lightly,” Towers said. “However, as an organization, we must continually evaluate our operations and make strategic decisions that position our company for long-term success.”
Towers said closing the Topeka location would allow the company to better allocate resources, strengthen its remaining operations and focus on markets with greater growth potential.
Continued Investment No Longer Fit Business Strategy
Towers said the company determined that continued investment in the Topeka dealership no longer aligned with its larger business objectives.
The closure is specific to Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka and, according to Towers, should not be interpreted as a sign of financial instability or an uncertain future for Towers’ Harley-Davidson Group.
The organization plans to continue operating its other dealerships and remains committed to the broader Harley-Davidson brand.
Towers also expressed appreciation for the dealership’s employees and the customers who supported the business over the years.
“We sincerely appreciate the employees who have dedicated their time and efforts to Historic Harley-Davidson, along with the loyal customers who have supported the dealership throughout the years,” Towers said. “Their contributions have not gone unnoticed.”
New Ownership and Relocation Plans
Towers acquired Historic Harley-Davidson in 2025 from longtime owner Mike Patterson. Following the ownership change, plans were discussed to relocate the dealership to the former Regal West Ridge 8 movie theater property in west Topeka.
The theater had closed more than a year earlier, and the proposed relocation offered the possibility of a new home for the established motorcycle business.
However, the dealership’s closure ends its operations at the Topeka location, leaving the future of the previously discussed relocation plans uncertain.
The shutdown also marks a significant change for the local motorcycle community, which had supported the dealership through generations of riders.
End of a Topeka Motorcycle Institution
Historic Harley-Davidson celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024, highlighting its long-standing presence in the Topeka community. With the closure taking effect October 28, the dealership’s history in the city comes to an end after more than seven decades.
While the shutdown represents the loss of a longtime local motorcycle destination, Towers emphasized that the decision was part of a broader business strategy rather than an indication that his entire dealership group was in trouble.
For Topeka-area Harley-Davidson riders, the immediate change is the loss of a familiar local dealership for motorcycle sales, service, parts and accessories.
Source: KSNT 27 News
TVBikerdad.com will continue covering developments affecting the motorcycle industry and the riding community.
Initial story :
A longtime motorcycle dealership in Topeka, Kansas, has closed its doors, bringing an abrupt end to a business that served generations of riders and motorcycle enthusiasts.
Towers’ Historic Harley-Davidson, located at Southwest 21st Street and Topeka Boulevard, shut down on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, according to local reporting. The closure comes less than two years after the dealership changed ownership.
The dealership had deep roots in the local riding community, dating back to 1949, when the Patterson family first opened its doors. For decades, the business was more than a place to buy a motorcycle, becoming a gathering spot for riders across northeast Kansas.
In January 2025, longtime owner Mike Patterson announced the sale to Steven Towers, who also owned Harley-Davidson dealerships in Winterville, North Carolina, and Lincoln, Nebraska. At the time, the transition was presented as the beginning of a new chapter for the historic dealership. https://www.wibw.com +1
Planned Relocation Never Reached the Finish Line
The dealership had previously announced plans to relocate to the former West Ridge 8 Theatres property near Southwest 17th Street and Wanamaker Road. The proposed move was intended to provide a larger showroom, upgraded service areas and a more modern facility for the Topeka riding community. https://www.wibw.com
The need for a new location had been discussed for years. Harley-Davidson had introduced updated dealership standards, and the existing building presented challenges in meeting the company’s requirements. Those issues were part of the original relocation discussion, although it remains unclear whether they were directly responsible for the sudden October 2026 shutdown. https://www.wibw.com +1
Employees Told of Closure as Dealership Went Dark
When local television crews arrived Wednesday morning, the dealership was locked. Employees outside the building confirmed they had been informed of the closure earlier that day but declined to provide interviews.
The dealership’s website was no longer functioning, and its Facebook page had been removed. Local reporting also indicated that the business was listed as permanently closed in Google search results. https://www.wibw.com
As of the latest local reporting, attempts to reach owner Steven Towers for comment had not received a response.
The closure marks a significant change for Topeka’s motorcycle community. What began as a family business in 1949 survived generations of change before passing to new ownership in 2025. Now, the future of the dealership and its previously announced relocation plans remains uncertain.
For riders who relied on the dealership for motorcycle sales, service, parts, accessories and community events, the sudden shutdown leaves questions about where they will turn next.
TVBikerdad.com will continue following this story as more information becomes available.
Editorial note: The available reporting confirms the closure, the planned relocation and the dealership’s history. However, I could not independently verify a definitive explanation from Steven Towers for the October 28 shutdown. The article above distinguishes the previously stated relocation challenges from the still-unconfirmed reason for the sudden closure.