The Mt. Baker Harley-Davidson will be closing this fall, owner Greg Head announced on Friday, Sept. 28.
Head said the last day of business for the dealership at 1421 N. State St. is Wednesday, Oct. 31.
“It was a difficult decision to close. We’ve been successful since I took over in early 2010 due to fantastic employees and tremendously loyal Harley-Davidson riders.” Head said in a news release, “With our lease ending soon, we first considered a new and larger location. However, in working with Harley-Davidson, a market analysis revealed limited opportunities for further growth.”
“The decision to close has been very personal for us since many of the employees and customers are considered close friends. It’s been a pleasure serving our customers and we thank them,” said Head.
Mt. Baker Harley-Davidson has 10 employees and some will be offered opportunities at other Harley-Davidson dealerships. All of the employees will receive assistance from the WorkSource Whatcom Career Center in seeking jobs and learning about available benefits and resources.
As for himself, Head said, “I feel honored to have been a Harley-Davidson dealer and our family looks forward to exploring other ways we can help more riders experience Harley-Davidson, the culture and the lifestyle it provides.”
Head declined to comment further on the decision beyond what was in the press release.
Since Head became owner of Mt. Baker Harley-Davidson, the store has supported numerous nonprofit organizations locally, including Toys for Tots, Lighthouse Mission and Agape House, WomenCare Shelter, Boys and Girls Club, Whatcom Humane Society, Whatcom County Hospice Foundation, and the Ryan Stiles Celebrity Golf Classic, a fundraiser for the Burned Children Recovery Foundation, according to the news release.
For information on Harley-Davidson and nearby dealers, visit harley-davidson.com.
It is too bad to see the shop close but I can see that as the baby boomers continue to age it will limit the sales of motorcycles in general. HD are great bikes but no one ever claim they were inexpensive and the baby boomers disposal income has taken a hit during this down turn. Whether there is another generation of HD riders following the baby boomers that will invest that much into motorbikes is yet to be seen.
Worst Harley shop in the state!
Glad to see them close. Horrible customer service and Greg is just plain rude. I don’t mind the ride to skagit to get my parts.
This news couldn’t come fast enough. Worst HD dealership I have ever been in. Maybe we can get someone honest here in Bellingham.
goodbye losers. I mean all the noisy pipes toting, wanna be tough biker posers.
Well jackie Says: The artical wasn’t about loud motorcycles. Its about finley getting rid of a looser that ran the local Harley shop. But by all means, tell us what you really think about motorcycles? And as the saying goes “if you dont ride you don’t know”.
Interesting, how many dealerships can there be between Bellingham and Seattle? There must be 3 or 4?? And for a limited audience.
The concepts of honesty and integrity were lost on the employees, and that flows from the top down. He lost his customer base and now his business due to unethical business practices, as his recent legal problems indicate. Good ridance.
I gotta say, I use to frequent the Harley shop every other week. Owning 2 hogs, I’m always looking for the goods.
After the new owner took over, I was shocked at how fast that place went down hill. Mr Head was quite rude and the service just went down hill.
Now I just shop at the Harley stores to the South. I wish Mr. Head well in the future, but his management changed this place for the worse, and this news does not surprise me.
Someone I know went in there for an oil change and was advised that his back tire was bad. He asked if they had sold him a bum tire, since he had just had that replaced a month prior at the same shop. Yeah, um, they could have at least kept track of the scams they were pulling so they didn’t do a repeat a month later. This news is not surprising considering what has been going down at this shop.
As one guy said, there are a LOT of HD dealers between here and Seattle. I’ve always thought there could not be enough Harley sales to keep all these guys in business. And I don’t think we’re done either. I could see maybe one dealership for three counties. And that is if they keep their rent down. So maybe the survivor has to move off of I-5 a few blocks.
Jackie, you ever meet a Biker? They are your neighbors, doctors, laywers, teachers, parents. They are probably the best group of people to meet. I’ve met Bandidos that were much nicer then Seattle Cops!
The best selling Harley is the cheap Sportster. Only fools pay more than $10K for a motorcycle!
We live in Birch Bay and have been passing by 2 HD dealerships in Whatcom and Skagit to give our business to one of the top dealerships in the country, Sound HD in Marysville. They appreciate your business and provide unbelievable support to their HOG chapter! The few times I’ve frequented Mt Baker I’ve been met with poor customer service and indifference. I would prefer to spend my hard earned $ on local businesses but they better appreciate it! And this dealership was way behind the times with very sub standard facilities, wouldn’t surprise me at all if the real story behind their closing is that HD pulled their dealership license…
Wow, them’s some pretty intense comments.
Looks like that’s one business that won’t be missed.
Keep the shiny side down, All.
KARMA IS A B_ _ _ _!!!!!!! She finds you everywhere!!!
Sorry to see it go. Losing a HD dealership is not a good indicator. It’s similar to losing a Benz dealership.
To say the dealership sucked is __ing cold. Those are your neighbors you’re talking about, you ___holes.
Harley is a great bike for the experienced rider. The reason kids ride the Jap bikes is because if they wreck one, it’s not a great loss because they’re cheaply made and priced accordingly (the bikes, not the kids). If the rider still rides after x amount of years, they will get either a HD, a BMW or a Triumph. All of them are priced the same.
Harley’s a fine bike for the experienced rider.
There goes the Ferndale Bob’s Burgers and Brews too. Oh well, imo the service and food quality there has suffered for a long time anyway.
This place cheated me out of $230.00 when my electric coat would not work after one day of use. So in my estimation they are no loss to our area. glad to see them out of business.
….keep the shiny side down is not a good sentiment. One would hope that camille would not wish injury on someone who rides a motorbike..
The best selling Harley is the cheap Sportster. Only fools pay more than $10K for a motorcycle!
really,,, hmm,, the #1 selling bike in the US is the streetglide, about $21k .. #2 is the ultra limited,, about $25K…and HD has 8 of the top 10 selling cruisers,, (651cc and bigger) and i don’t think the xl is on that list,, sure you can buy a nice metric for about 10k but it’s a Bi**h when 2 years later it’s worth 3K…
I bought a 2000 Yamaha Roadstar new in 2000. It was half the price of the HD, 98 cubic in. motor….bigger than most HDs I paid 10K less then an HD. Looks great sounds great and with 40k on my bike its been problem free. As for resale value? well I saved 10K when I bought it and its still worth 5k. They say HDs keep there value but I really question that. HDs are great bikes but really over priced.
Michael, we forgive you….no need to justify yourself. By the way, how is your Subururu? My GMC is fine.
Adios, Greg, you were the rudest b@st@rd I ever met in my life. Wouldn’t walk through the door of your store if it did stay open. Skagit HD is the best, just bought my second brand new bike from them, passed your store on the way to get it. I think you know who I am, you are a jerk.
Glad to hear if an unscrupulous dealer is dead in the water. These guys seem to loose the conception that “they” are there for “our” needs… not the other way around!
As for HD keeping their value..NOT! They are overpriced & lack the quality that their pricing dictates! Riding HD since ’75.
Perhaps a Ducati dealership will open in its place……
HD foeber, Bandit, HDRIDER, jackie, John, Jim, Hamsterette, John, Dick, Bill;
What a bunch of cry baby bi___s. You don’t have anything better to do than to actively hate a dealership? There’s always a ‘tard out there that has some dumb story about how the dealership scammed them. There usually lying and ALWAYS a loser. Of course they think they know everything. So to you losers that are so happy that “you finally won your personal war against Mt Baker Harley”, good luck hating everything and everyone for the rest of you life, or what few years you have left. You’ll just find something else you hate about the next dealer, cause that’s what you do, complain, complain, complain, cry, wine, B__ch, wine, cry. Harley Davidson is the greatest brand for the greatest people in the world.
I went into Sound Harley one time and I got raped. So I went to Skagit but then I got Sodomized. So I will never go to those two places again.
Up.
I meant to write ‘up’.
(I think they got it, 4Q; I’m an old woman, you know…)
Wow, this makes me feel better about purchasing my new or shall I say gently used BMW, Ducati, Ktm, next year. Bellingham does not need a creep like that in business here. I have been riding for most of my life and have only had problems in Harley shops, they think there mufflers dont stink! I will be glad to see them closed, BMW are you listening.
Wow! Sounds like The Devils underwear are all wound up in their crack. Truth hurts huh? I ride a Harley. I know it’s a great bike…doesn’t meant Mt Baker is worth a crap. Hating on everyone and everything? Really? Sounds to me like people’s opinions really got you all wound up. You might wanna seek counseling. You sit behind your computer screen acting as if you know us or actually know what your talking about. You sound like you are a little butt hurt over this. Are you a soon to be unemployed rude ass employee of that place? Maybe you just bury your face in Heads lap. We as non customers have nothing to do with that place closing. We can choose where to spend our $ or not spend it. Sounds to me like there are numerous people who weren’t happy with the place. It’s to bad the customer service was horrible there, it’s to bad the owner felt he was bigger than the customer. Good customer service goes along way. You sound really upset over our statements….I doubt you can really deal with it, but good luck. Your just a little nobody who is really miserable inside. Now go back to sucking your thumb in the fetal position.
Lets bring the discussion back to the article. Bellingham Harley was an honorable dealership with good hard working people on the staff. The new guy comes in from Chicago, tells a bunch of stories and thinks he’s something special. The first hand account of how he humiliated and lied to employees are disgraceful. Had your sister or brother had been treated the way the Bellingham Harley employees were treated, every one of you would want to settle the score. This is not about which bike is better or worse and its not about the economy; it’s about a man who thought he could lie, cheat and steal and get away with it. Greg is in hot water because he’s crooked and thank God the customer that could prove it knew what to do and who to contact. my heart goes out to the wife and kids who are also victims. For the owner, I think the best place for him is in a 6 x 6 facility operated by the state. I’m certain that if another owner opens a Harley dealership in Whatcom county, they’ll do extremely well if they remember that people who ride motorcycles are like an extended family.
I have worked at two Harley-Davidson dealerships for about 27+ years, not in Wa. I have to agree with the fact that customers are the only reason you stay in business. If you take care of your business, both employee’s and customers, everyone wins. Being honest and telling it like it is sometimes can hurt for a minute, but the truth and honesty will keep a even playing field. Harley-Davidson’s are fun to ride, and yes, it is a very close nit group of caring riders whom will drop what they are doing to help another in need. Harley riders I have found have big hearts and give generously to charities. It is sad to hear the local dealer had a different agenda for the employee’s and customers based on the comments posted! I miss some of the customers from my first dealership, they used to just drop in and hang around to talk and see what’s new.
I have many new friends in the second dealership and they to like to drop in and pick on me. I hope Bellingham gets another Harley dealer, it could be a fun place again with the right owner and employee’s. Ride Safe and keep your Harley in the wind!
That business was doomed from the minute Greg Head came into town. First he fires the loyal staff and mechanics that had been there for years. Then, he hires a bunch of pimps and hos and is stupid enough to lie to them about anything! Not a fit for a Bellingham business person in these times. Prior owner was a real good man with solid character and honesty. So sorry to see him leave but I understand he had health problems. Anyway, goodbye Greg! Tell your story walkin’. It will all be crap anyway!
Ah, horsemud.
Greg is no worse than any other Bellingham business owner or are the blinders on, the fingers in the ears and you’re shouting, “I can’t hear you! Bellingham is fine! We don’t have any problems except for outsiders and their dirty money!”
Gots news for you. The dealership closed because it wasn’t making enough money to pay the rent.
Gots news for you. The last owner left under circumstances.
Gots news for you. If it wasn’t for fresh blood and their money coming here, we’d be Sedro.
It is always sad to hear about a local business closing… period! It reflects that the economy has still not turned around and there’s simply not enough disposable income available for luxury items like Harleys. So why not spend less time pointing fingers and demonizing one dealership – which at least brought revenue into Bellingham, and supported local charities – and more time actually being productive, working, or buying!? (For starters, a dictionary is an affordable investment. If you’re going to whine non-stop, at least spell your message correctly. How’s that for an unnecessary cheap shot?) Let’s stop pissing and moaning and do whatever we need to keep the local economy going.
Not about your ride. Any ride is a good ride. This is about the Mt Baker HD dealership. I have been on HD’s for a number of years and own several. Bought one from Greg Head. My wife and I have not entered the dealership since late 2010 nor would I enter under the present ownership. A successful business is built under honesty and integrity. I saw this to be lacking at the management level therefore I do business elsewhere. Following a customer complaint and a law enforcement investigation Felony charges were filed in Superior court naming Greg Head and his general manager of wrongdoing.This involved 2 felony theft/fraud incident’s involving a customers M/C.This case is still pending.I recently read an article about Head’s closing up the shop due to His and HD’s market analysis showing limited opportunities.GEEEE, Duhh…Limited opportunities caused by poor business practices.Treat me right, I stay..cheat me I leave….Why is Head closing his shop??could it be that with a felony conviction he jeapordizes his HD franchise. Is it because a conviction might lead to his not being able to be bonded or maybe not be able to transfer vehicle titles. I wonder….I strongly believe that under good ownership and management a very successful and profitable dealership can exist in Whatcom county with the customer market base extending from the tri county area and extending to our Canadian friends from the north. I saw earlier where a writer said that the business is closing due to not being able to make enough money to pay the rent. Why? Why? did Head not make enough money to pay his rent. Might be due to people not wishing to deal with him, don’t you think. I think having NO dealership in Whatcom county is better than having a disreputable one in Whatcom County. Shame on you Head for what you have done………..shame, shame, shame…………….
Hey – just a friendly “shout-out” to one particular person, and likely author of one of the previous entries (because only “he” knows firsthand some of the information shared):
Hey “DM” – vendetta much????