Harley-Davidson of Rock Hill acquired by Baker VTwin2
Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was recently purchased by Carson Baker, owner of Baker VTwin2. The dealership had been formerly owned and operated by the Cox family since 2004. New ownership has deemed the store Dog House Harley-Davidson, and it will operate out of the same facility, built by the Cox family in 2006.
Rock Hill’s former dealer principal, Jan Cox, states that her decision to sell was based upon her impending retirement. “We had a strong run catering to riders from York County, Charlotte, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and beyond,” she says. “It is our hope that the new owner will be welcomed as they continue this service. It is with humble gratitude that we wish the best to our customers, the community and our staff members. The loyalty and dedication you gave us was abundant and appreciated. We look forward to what the future holds for our Asheboro location.”
The Cox family’s legacy in the motorcycle industry dates back to 1961, with the founding of Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro by Jan Cox’s father-in-law, Recil Cox. The dealership remains operational today and holds the distinction of being the longest-running family-owned Harley-Davidson dealership in North Carolina.
The Asheboro, North Carolina, store is operated by Stephen Cox, third-generation owner of Cox’s Harley-Davidson. “Three generations of business ownership is hard to find these days,” Cox says. “Unmatched customer loyalty and a team who works with dignity and embraces both the Cox brand and Harley-Davidson, well, that’s pretty special. It has always been that way.”
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner and Courtney A. Bernhard, Partner of the Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction.
Chaconas shares, “In 2015, I had the privilege of representing the Cox family in the sale of Cox’s Northern Tier Harley-Davidson to Pete Eisenhauer. Over the years, I kept in touch with Jan Cox to see when she might be ready to sell Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Rock Hill. After nearly 20 years of ownership, she was ready to retire. It was an honor to represent the Cox family again and sell to Carson Baker, the owner of Baker VTwin2. This marks the second Harley-Davidson dealership I’ve sold to Carson. I also want to thank my partner, Courtney Bernhard, for her invaluable assistance in facilitating the sale. I wish Jan all the best in her retirement and look forward to helping Carson continue to grow in the near future.”
Bernhard adds, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Carson Baker and his team on another acquisition. There are many moving parts in a buy-sell transaction, and his team played a crucial role in getting this one across the finish line. I look forward to continuing to work with Carson and his team as they expand.”
Baker has had a passion for motorcycles since early childhood. He received his first motorcycle as a Christmas gift at age three, and his love for motorized vehicles grew from there. “I have always been infatuated by anything with a motor,” Baker says. He spent his formative years riding on his family’s 100-acre farm.
After earning his degree from Coastal Carolina University, Baker worked at his father’s Chevrolet dealership before deciding to pursue his passion for powersports. In 2014, he opened Baker American Cycles in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and over the years, expanded his business through a series of acquisitions, including Baker Motorsports in Fayetteville, Battleship Cycles and Marine in Wilmington, and Bulldog Harley-Davidson in Smithfield, North Carolina.
“This is the second Harley-Davidson dealership that I acquired through George Chaconas and his partner, Courtney Bernhard, of Performance Brokerage Services,” Baker says. “They were very instrumental in helping me identify my second Harley-Davidson dealership and very engaged from start to finish in acquiring Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Rock Hill, South Carolina, from the longtime owner, the Cox family. George and Courtney’s professionalism, industry knowledge and expertise contributed significantly to closing this transaction. I look forward to continuing to grow my powersports dealership platform with the help of George and Courtney and their team. When you are considering buying or selling a powersports dealership, look no further than George and Courtney to help you through this complex process.”
Carson Baker was represented by Logan Parker at Bass Sox Mercer in Tallahassee, Florida.
Cox’s Harley-Davidson will be renamed Dog House Harley-Davidson and will remain at its current location at 1178 Galleria Boulevard in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
