Multi-line dealership winding down operations after 32 years
A convergence of retirement plans for part of the dealership’s ownership and new career paths for the other part owners has led to news that a major multi-line dealership will be winding down operations in the coming months.
Edmonton, Alberta-based Echo Cycle announced a time auction is open for bidding as of May 18 and closes June 1. An unreserved public auction on June 1 includes motorcycles, electric bicycles, scooters, parts, accessories, apparel, fixtures, forklifts, shop equipment, signage and more.
Owners Paul and Carol Goldbeck, Jolene Goldbeck and David Boire found great success with a franchise lineup that included Arctic Cat, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Piaggio, Textron Off Road and Triumph. The dealership was the oldest Husqvarna dealer in Edmonton, the oldest Kawasaki dealer in Alberta and the oldest Triumph dealer in western Canada.
Echo Cycle has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google from 266 reviewers. One recent 5-star review included these comments: “It is and will always be the best motorcycle dealership plus service I’ve ever dealt with in over 20 years of riding. You get to deal with owners, not just service personnel, and they all have a added interest in making sure you leave as happy as you walked in. To even happier when you leave.”
In 1991, Echo Cycle was given the Top Dealer Retail Award by Kawasaki. In 1994, Triumph selected Echo Cycle to be the first Canadian Triumph concept store. The dealership was later named Triumph’s Canadian Dealer of the Year for many consecutive years. Echo added Arctic Cat snowmobiles and ATVs in 1996, and shortly after was named Canadian Dealer of the Year by the brand while maintaining Platinum and Gold dealer status with Arctic Cat.
While announcing its closure, the dealership notes it will downsize in a newer version of itself as it moves from OEM sales to consignment and used units, service and dyno-testing, in a venture headed by Boire.
In an Instagram post, Echo Cycles notes that it was time to move on. “We are not going bankrupt, and although we have investigated options of selling the business to refresh the bloodstream with new ideas and fresh innovation, we are choosing to wind down operations over the next several months.”
The dealership goes on to write that the “announcement does not come without great sadness for our departure from the motorsports industry, but we can truly say, it’s been a pleasure to build the relationships we have and to have been invited into so many lives through our shared passion.”
The franchises have landed with other local dealerships.
“We want to thank the dealer network and our reps who graciously made our exit from the OEM business as painless as possible. We are excited to see them prosper in their new adventures.”
A separate post on the dealership’s website offers insight into the future plans for the building.
“In closing, Echo Cycle, in part, will live on. Redefine, repurposed and restructured. It’s exciting times for Dave and the team; we wish them the greatest success.”
