Harley shop just like home

Published 9:00 pm Friday, September 1, 2006

SMOKEY POINT – If Snohomish County’s newest Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership looks familiar, don’t be surprised.

Sound Harley-Davidson, which opens Tuesday, is a replica of the nearly 100-year-old Harley factory building in Milwaukee, complete with water tower.

It’s not the first dealership to recreate the unique look of the older building, but Sound co-owner Scott Smernis thinks it may be the best. “Some have a little of this flavor, but none have carried it his far,” he said.

The new 31,000-square-foot building is a good blend of the old and the new.

Inside, one of the three fireplaces is flanked by black leather couches and a snack bar with stools to give things a warmer feel.

Elsewhere, there are touches of chrome and steel that give the showroom a more modern look.

Smernis, who retired from Microsoft, said he and his wife Marianne, also a co-owner, competed against 20 other people who wanted the dealership, the ninth in the Puget Sound area.

Harley-Davidson officials selected the Marysville area as the preferred site for the dealership. Lynnwood also has a Harley-Davidson dealer, but the two aren’t expected to compete against each other because of all the growth in north Snohomish County.

Smernis said he was glad he won the competition for the new location.

“I ride and I really enjoy it,” he said. “I’ve been in the software industry for the last 20 years and I wanted to do something different.”

Nobody would have blamed Smernis if he was having second thoughts Thursday night as workers rushed to get things ready for the opening.

Outside, employees from Gagnon Welding in Snohomish were welding in supports for the tank atop the water tower. Others were watering the new landscaping. Inside, boxes were strewn across the showroom floor as employees rushed to get black leather jackets and other riding gear up on the sales racks.

Back in the maintenance bays, mechanics were putting the finishing touches on the new bikes.

Sound Harley, which will employ about 25 people, will focus first on sales of motorcycles and related equipment.

In the spring, Smernis said, it expects to add a lot of training classes to make sure customers can ride their purchases safely and effectively.

The shop is located on Smokey Point Boulevard, south of 172nd Street.