Meredith Harley is now Laconia Harley

Steve and Anne Deli of Chicago on Thursday officially announced their purchase of Meredith Harley-Davidson, including its dealership locations in Meredith and North Conway. They purchased the dealership from long-time previous owners Linda and Herb Johnson.

The Johnsons had announced on July 21 their intention to sell the signature business they built from a rather humble beginning in 1983 to American Road Group, the Deli's corporate identity.

The dealerships have been renamed Laconia Harley-Davidson (Meredith) and White Mountain Harley-Davidson (North Conway).

“We plan to create an iconic, destination dealership here in Meredith," said Ann Deli. "The name Laconia is instantly recognized worldwide as the oldest motorcycle rally in America as well as one of the largest. It is first among the storied Big Four Rallies that comprise the major annual motorcycle events that send chills of anticipation and excitement down the spines of enthusiasts everywhere. Our dealership is very much central to this ‘Mecca of Motorcycling’ event.”

“It is this spirit and enthusiasm we hope to capture year-round," Deli continued. "Of course, our adoption of the name should help us build even greater awareness and attendance for Laconia Motorcycle Week. What better way to advertise than to have riders from around the world wearing our Laconia Harley-Davidson tee-shirts?”

“White Mountain Harley-Davidson speaks to the spectacular motorcycling experience in the beautifully scenic winding roads through the White Mountain region, of which North Conway is a vibrant part,” added Steve Deli.

The Deli's named Kyle Jones as its new general manager for the dealerships. He was previously district manager for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, responsible for the South Georgia and Northern/Central Florida districts. He has worked for Harley-Davidson for eight years, including serving as supervisor at Harley’s primary assembly facility in York, Pennsylvania. Prior to that he served for eight years in the USMC Marine Corps.

“We have known Kyle for many years and have been tremendously impressed by his dependability, hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, process orientation and dedication to customer service,” said Anne Deli. “We look forward to his leadership of Laconia Harley-Davidson and White Mountain Harley-Davidson, and achieving the growth and commitment to customer service that we believe is our greatest opportunity and most important asset.”

Deli said that Jones had just returned from a 2,600-mile motorcycle ride from the 105th Harley-Davidson Anniversary in Milwaukee and is ready to take on his new challenge. Jones, his wife Terri, and his three sons will be relocating to the region.

The dealership mailed today its Winter Storage Package mailer and is seeking to attract those who stored their motorcycles last year as well as anyone else looking for a climate controlled, secure storage environment for their Harley or metric motorcycle.

Laconia Harley-Davidson is planning a Meet the New Owners & Management Party on Sunday, October 5 from 2 to 6 p.m.

“Steve, Kyle and I are really looking forward to meeting our customers and becoming part of this wonderful community," said Ann Deli. "There already have been many who have reached out. We are hoping many of the dealership customers will come and say hello, and get to know us better.”

Deli said the dealership plans to create a variety of activities to keep the “riding” flame alive through the winter months and will be making numerous improvements over the next several months including the addition of motorcycle rentals for next summer.

Laconia Harley-Davidson will also plan to continue its sales of Polaris snowmobiles, parts and accessories, and its snowmobile service business over this winter.

“We are going to develop a business plan, align the organization to that plan, and make changes to help us achieve our business and customer excellence goals," said Steve Deli. "These will develop over time, and we know that by the spring we will be fully ready to welcome back all of the motorcycling public to our dealerships and to Laconia Motorcycle Week. So until that time, please pardon our dust.”

American Road Group owns and operates Harley-Davidson dealerships and retail merchandise stores. Its Orlando Harley-Davidson is one of the largest motorcycle dealerships in the world and includes three full-service dealerships and five Harley merchandise stores at Walt Disney World, Orlando International Airport, and other high traffic locations. The group also operates Harley-Davidson retail merchandise stores at major airports and visitor locations elsewhere in the country, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and also at the huge Mall of America nearby, Union Station and National Harbor in Washington, D.C., and Charlotte International Airport. Additional stores will be opening at O’ Hare International Airport and Indianapolis Airport later this year.

Steven Deli serves as American Road Group's Chief Executive Officer and Anne Deli is president.

Steve Deli began his career as an investment banker after graduating from Harvard Business School. He is attributed with saving Harley-Davidson Motor Company in the late 1980s, when he was head of Corporate Finance at Dean Witter in Chicago and put together the recapitalization that allowed Harley to avoid bankruptcy. Later he led the investment banking team that took Harley-Davidson public. Subsequently he created and ran what is today Harley-Davidson Financial Services, selling that business to Harley-Davidson, Inc. several years later.

Anne Deli worked at leading Madison Avenue advertising agencies in New York for nearly 20 years, during which time Harley-Davidson became a client. In the early 1990s she joined Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee as its first female vice president. She was in charge of global marketing, brand management and the global licensing program. She has been honored with the 40 Under 40 Leadership award in 1995 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and in 2005, she was named Business Woman of the Year in Orlando, Florida. Recently she was elected to Florida Leadership.

The Delis purchased the dealership in Orlando in 2000.