Kawasaki of Reno has occupied its current location for just over three years, but the off-road and personal-watercraft dealership is moving south on Market Street to a new location on land it owns, says General Manager John Thurmond.
Once Kawasaki vacates the premises, Reno Harley-Davidson will take over the space, says President John Crowell, who owns the building and houses part of his service center in the rear.
Kawasaki of Reno occupies 15,000 square feet at 2315 Market St., but the dealership hopes to relocate into two new buildings totaling 11,000 square feet each by the end of the year. One building will house
Kawasaki products, such as motorcycles and personal watercraft, while the other will be for Artic Cat all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
The new buildings are just north of the new Holiday Inn Express being built near the corners of Market and Vassar streets.
Thurmond says economics are the main reason for the move.
"We have been in business for over 15 years here (in Reno), and we are
looking at the longevity of the business," he says. "We have been renting, and we are looking at the long haul. We would much rather make our own rent payments and be our own landlords."
Ajs Construction is the general contractor for the new development, which was designed by K2 Engineering and Structural Design. Both companies are headquartered in Reno. Thurmond says the biggest difficulty to overcome thus far has been receiving permitting approval from the City of Reno he's been slogging through the process for more than 18 months.
"The permitting process has just been unbelievably painful; it just seems like one hurdle after the other," he says.
Kawasaki of Reno employs 10, and Thurmond doesn't plan to increase staffing after the move.
Reno Harley-Davidson owners John and Marci Crowell own the green Kawasaki building as well as the adjacent 5,000-square-foot building that formerly housed Big Dog Motor-cycles. Reno Harley-Davidson currently leases 8,000 square feet of showroom space at 2295 Market St., but John Crowell says he will vacate the space and take over the buildings he owns.
"The bottom line with the entire move is that it is part of a long-term plan we have to continue to build and expand our business, and we are just executing this next important piece," he says.
Crowell expects to begin "retail- and service-friendly" build out of the vacant space in October or November.
"We have a lot of exciting plans for the Market Street center that will deepen our brand in this market," he says. "The way we will build it out will fortify our exposure and recognition in the market."
