burnszilla
New member
from: The Windsor Times
http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2005/01/13/windsor/news/nws-3.txt
BMW motorcycle dealership will move to Windsor in April
by NATE MILLER, Staff Writer
The Germans are coming! The Germans are coming! German motorcycles that is. Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will soon be moving from Santa Rosa into its new home on American Way in Windsor.
"We wanted an existing building but there wasn't one out there," said the dealership's co-owner Chris Gonzales. "We found this lot and knew it was it."
The reason for the move is simple; the dealership has outgrown its current space. The new building has more than 7,000 square feet of floor space compared to the current location's 3,500 square feet. There will be more showroom space, and the service department and accessory shop will be expanded at the new location. The owners are also looking to hire more staff.
Chris and Dennis Gonzales have owned and operated the Santa Rosa dealership since 1983. Dennis's background is in the aircraft industry.
He served in the Air Force in the 1970s and then went to work for Piper Aircraft, working for the company until 1988.
"I had always ridden bikes, they were my first means of transportation," said Dennis.
Chris learned to ride after she and Dennis were married in 1972. At the time, Dennis was stationed in the Philippines with the Air Force, and the two of them would get around on a motorbike.
The dealership they purchased in 1983 was called Corky Motors, and specialized in Suzuki motorcycles. The Gonzales's acquired the BMW franchise the same year and sold both brands. They sold the Suzuki franchise three years ago.
Dennis kept his job with Piper until 1988, and then joined Chris full time in running the dealership.
The Gonzales's are considering going into the business of organizing motorcycle tours. They have informally coordinated several overseas tours for their friends and customers. They first got the idea from a BMW convention they attended in Germany. As part of the convention they toured Germany on bikes with other dealers. They have since coordinated one trip to Germany at the time of Oktoberfest, another to Spain last year and they have one planned for New Zealand in 2006.
"We are hoping to coordinate or facilitate tours of the wine country, starting sometime next year," said Dennis.
Such tours would include a package where people could fly to Sonoma County, buy a motorcycle, travel around the wine country while staying at different inns and bed and breakfast facilities, and then drive their new motorcycle home.
Although the BMV dealership will now be located within Windsor's town limits, the name Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will not change.
"We have had this name for so long, and so many people know us by it," said Chris. "We are keeping it the same."
Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will be moving into its new location soon, and the Gonzales's expect to be open by the end of the month. The dealership is located at 800 American Way, at the corner of Conde Lane and American Way. Hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.to 6 p.m.
http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2005/01/13/windsor/news/nws-3.txt
BMW motorcycle dealership will move to Windsor in April
by NATE MILLER, Staff Writer
The Germans are coming! The Germans are coming! German motorcycles that is. Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will soon be moving from Santa Rosa into its new home on American Way in Windsor.
"We wanted an existing building but there wasn't one out there," said the dealership's co-owner Chris Gonzales. "We found this lot and knew it was it."
The reason for the move is simple; the dealership has outgrown its current space. The new building has more than 7,000 square feet of floor space compared to the current location's 3,500 square feet. There will be more showroom space, and the service department and accessory shop will be expanded at the new location. The owners are also looking to hire more staff.
Chris and Dennis Gonzales have owned and operated the Santa Rosa dealership since 1983. Dennis's background is in the aircraft industry.
He served in the Air Force in the 1970s and then went to work for Piper Aircraft, working for the company until 1988.
"I had always ridden bikes, they were my first means of transportation," said Dennis.
Chris learned to ride after she and Dennis were married in 1972. At the time, Dennis was stationed in the Philippines with the Air Force, and the two of them would get around on a motorbike.
The dealership they purchased in 1983 was called Corky Motors, and specialized in Suzuki motorcycles. The Gonzales's acquired the BMW franchise the same year and sold both brands. They sold the Suzuki franchise three years ago.
Dennis kept his job with Piper until 1988, and then joined Chris full time in running the dealership.
The Gonzales's are considering going into the business of organizing motorcycle tours. They have informally coordinated several overseas tours for their friends and customers. They first got the idea from a BMW convention they attended in Germany. As part of the convention they toured Germany on bikes with other dealers. They have since coordinated one trip to Germany at the time of Oktoberfest, another to Spain last year and they have one planned for New Zealand in 2006.
"We are hoping to coordinate or facilitate tours of the wine country, starting sometime next year," said Dennis.
Such tours would include a package where people could fly to Sonoma County, buy a motorcycle, travel around the wine country while staying at different inns and bed and breakfast facilities, and then drive their new motorcycle home.
Although the BMV dealership will now be located within Windsor's town limits, the name Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will not change.
"We have had this name for so long, and so many people know us by it," said Chris. "We are keeping it the same."
Santa Rosa BMW Motorcycles will be moving into its new location soon, and the Gonzales's expect to be open by the end of the month. The dealership is located at 800 American Way, at the corner of Conde Lane and American Way. Hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.to 6 p.m.
