Farm of 35 years of activity of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Atascadero

A long-time reseller of Harley davidson motorcycles and clothing closed the doors of its 27,000 square foot Atascadero building in the 7900 block from Avenida San Luis Sunday after 35 years of activity.

Gary Bang Harley-Davidson Director Kristy Bang-Popowich said on Thursday that the local market is simply not big enough to support the business.

At its peak, Bang-Popowich said, the store sold around 125 motorcycles a year, but sales had fallen to around 50 in recent years. She said Harley-Davidson has slowly increased the number of outlets authorized to sell its motorcycles and cost the store much of its business outside the county. Harley-Davidson’s push towards online sales then slashed their clothing sales, she said.

“It’s just not an area big enough for our size and we really needed to have that ground traffic,†she said.

The company, owned by Bang-Popowich’s parents Gary and Mary Bang, began as an aftermarket supplier in the San Fernando Valley and began selling the American icon exclusively in 1980.

When it closed, the company had seven employees.

Bang-Popowich said she, her co-manager and sister Lisa Bang and their parents plan to stay in the county.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 5:09 p.m.