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New business, old brand Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming C.W. Smith, former Jackson County sheriff and now co-owner of Indian Motorcycle Medford Inc., in Phoenix, is hosting the shop's grand opening this weekend with a live band and free food. The dealership, which sells new production models of the 100-year-old, world-famous Indian brand motorcycle, is in the former home of D&S Harley-Davidson, which moved into a new building north of Phoenix on Highway 99. Indian Motorcycle Medford celebrates its first year, Indian's 100th By SHARI DOWNHILL Local investors who put their money on the line a year ago to open an Indian motorcycle dealership in Medford will celebrate the bike's 100-year anniversary and their own first year in business Saturday. Indian Motorcycle Medford Inc. originally opened its doors in the Rogue Valley Mall, moving to its current 10,000-square-foot location at 4526 S. Pacific Highway, Phoenix, in January. The dealership includes a 4,000-square-foot service area with two service technicians, and 6,000 square feet of warehouse and retail space featuring Indian-brand riding gear and apparel. Store manager Lorry Shlitter oversees the operation. Company president C.W. Smith says the investment was sound. Still, convincing Indian Motorcycle to allow a dealership in a "secondary" market like Medford was a challenge, said Stephen Pugsley, the company's business manager. "We actually pushed their hand to bring Indian to Medford," he said. "We put together a group of investors (which included Smith) with a passion about motorcycles and we made it happen." That passion has led to the fledgling shop's ranking as one of Indian's top secondary market dealerships in terms of sales across the country. The Medford shop accomplished that feat during a year - their first - in which the economy has taken a definite nose dive, Pugsley said. Company managers had set out to sell at least a bike a week for the first year and have met that goal so far. Indian Motorcycle Medford will hold its grand opening celebration Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The event will include live performances by bands, including Shadowz with a special guest singer, an appearance by professional wrestlers, a raffle, food, and a beer garden. Customers who decide to buy bikes on Saturday will also receive a complementary trip with accommodations. Though the Indian motorcycle was born in 1901 as a partnership venture between bicycle racer George M. Hendee and engineer Carl Oscar (neither was an American Indian), the trademark motorcycle design went out of production in 1953. Low profits and poor business decisions contributed to the company's demise. The popular Indian brand was resurrected in 1998 with a $30 million merger involving Indian Motorcycle Company Inc., American Indian Motorcycle Company, California Motorcycle Company and its six related companies, creating the second-largest producer of heavy cruiser bikes in North America. The first Indian produced after a 45-year hiatus was the 1999 Limited Edition Chief, followed in 2000 by the Scout and in 2001 by the Spirit. All three models are available at Indian Motorcycle Medford, ranging in price from $19,000 to $24,000. "Still," Pugsley said, "whether (riders) are on a Honda or a Harley, everyone is happy to see America's first motorcycle back." Indian Motorcycle Medford Inc. can be reached at 512-1200. Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.