Chicago-area Harley dealers merge
Windy City Motorcycle Co. has announced a partnership with Fox Powersports to combine more Chicago-area Harley-Davidson dealerships under one management group.
As part of the deal, Fox's Chicago Harley-Davidson dealership in Glenview will be relocated to Rosemont, and a new Chicago Harley-Davidson of Wrigleyville store will open today, Feb. 15, in the city's Wrigleyville neighborhood on the corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue across from Wrigley Field.
Windy City is being renamed Windy City-Fox Motorsports as it takes over management of three additional Chicago-area motorcycle dealerships. In addition to the Rosemont and Wrigleyville locations, Fox owns Lakeshore Harley-Davidson in Libertyville.
Fox Powersports is part of the Fox Motors group that sells 41 automotive and motorcycle brands in 36 locations across Illinois and Michigan, with more than 1,825 employees in both states.
Windy City-Fox Motorsports, with 400 employees, now represents Harley-Davidson and other premium motorcycle brands in 19 locations in Chicago, Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
"By combining resources, Windy City-Fox Motorsports becomes the nation's premier dealer and one of the largest motorcycle companies in the country, capable of creating incredible motorcycle experiences," said Ozzie Giglio, CEO of Windy City-Fox Motorsports. Giglio and his wife, Jill, started with their first dealership, Wild Fire Harley-Davidson of Villa Park, in 2001.
The Windy City-Fox Motorsports agreement is under final review by Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and is expected to be approved by the end of February, Giglio said in a news release. Windy City-Fox Motorsports daily operations will be overseen by the Windy City Motorcycle Co. team.
The Rosemont store, between the Hofbrauhaus Chicago restaurant and the Big Ten Conference Headquarters, will be modeled after Harley-Davidson's corporate headquarters in Milwaukee. It will open this spring and offer new and pre-owned motorcycles, clothing and collectibles, parts and accessories, a full-service department and rider services, including a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy, motorcycle tours and motorcycle rentals, the company said.
"As the two largest Harley-Davidson groups serving the Chicago metropolitan area and Southern Wisconsin markets, Fox is thrilled to partner with Ozzie Giglio and the WCMC team as they bring a breadth of experience and knowledge of the market," Fox Powersports Chairman and CEO Dan DeVos said in the release. "As a team, we are committed to upholding the highest quality of service and experience to all current and future Harley-Davidson riders in both the city and surrounding areas."
Other suburban Windy City dealerships include City Limits Harley-Davidson in Palatine, Fox River Harley-Davidson in St. Charles, McHenry Harley-Davidson in McHenry, Wild One Harley-Davidson in Bloomingdale, Woodstock Harley-Davidson in Woodstock and Windy City Harley-Davidson at O'Hare International Airport.