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Business & Tech

Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson Dealer to Close Dec. 31

HOG Chapter 1608 members throughout the Chicago Southland were attached to this store. They've been told they can split up and join other outfits. Tinley now the region's only store.

Another south suburban Harley dealership will disappear at the end of the year when Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson closes its doors for the last time.

And the local Harley Owners Group, with members far and wide, will be wiped out, too.

The dealership at 11040 S. Cicero Ave. changed hands this week and its new owner is closing the doors and merging operations with Illinois Harley-Davidson in Berwyn.

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Calls for comment to Illinois Harley and City Limits Harley were not returned. The City Limits Facebook page says only that the Oak Lawn dealership was purchased and to call there for information.

Arnold Duran, president of the Oak Lawn dealership's Harley Owners Group (HOG) Chapter 1068, said he was told that the Oak Lawn dealership was being wiped out after 18 years in business.

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"I was told the building is closing and the Oak Lawn name is going away," said Duran, 68, of Palos Hills. "When the dealership is gone, so is the chapter."

Duran said 146 chapter members were told at their Christmas party Thursday night that they could join a HOG chapter at one of the other dealerships.

"But not a lot of us are going to do that," said Duran. "Our group has been together a long time. We want to stick together. We have members out in Frankfort who aren't going to go to Berwyn.

"I'm going to stick around with this chapter until Harley tells me I can't," he said, and maybe even after that. "Maybe we'll stick together and call ourselves the Oak Lawn Hawgs."

Duran was sympathetic to the employees who just got fired.

"We feel for them," he said. "Oak Lawn Harley was like a family and it hurts when someone in your family loses their job."

Many of the employees at Oak Lawn Harley were let go immediately following the change in ownership. Some were offered positions at Illinois Harley or its sister stores, Wild Fire Harley in Villa Park and City Limits Harley in Palatine.

An employee named Natalie refused to say anything more than the dealership had changed hands, and another employee named Kevin would only confirm the dealership was shutting down at the end of the year and there is a closing sale in progress.

"That's all we can say," he said before hanging up.

Duran said two hot topics of discussion dominated the HOG chapter's Christmas party: gift cards and bike storage.

"At first, they said gift cards were only going to be good through the end of the year," Duran said. "Now, I've been told they will be accepted at the three dealerships until sometime in June. "

"I have chapter members who don't want their bikes being stored in Berwyn," said Duran. "They don't like the way that was handled."

The new owner has a lengthy message about the closing posted at the Oak Lawn Harley website: www.harley-oaklawn.com.

There is a store closing sale going on through the end of December with merchandise knocked down 20 percent. The discount doesn't apply to the price of the motorcycles.

"I wouldn't have minded buying a new bike at 20 percent off," said Duran with a laugh.

When Oak Lawn Harley closes, the only remaining south suburban dealership will be  on LaGrange Road just north of I-80.

Dozens of Harley dealerships across the country closed in the past year, including Harley-Davidson of Crete, which shut its doors for good in mid-October. The Wisconsin-based motorcycle company has about 700 dealerships including more than a dozen in the Chicago area.

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