History

Early business card from Illinois Harley-Davidson

Illinois Harley-Davidson can trace its history all the way back to 1916, when Wilbur “Bill” H. Thede opened his first motorcycle dealership on Lake Street in Melrose Park Illinois. In 1925, Thede, known then as “the motorcycle man”, became one of the first Harley-Davidson dealers in the Chicago area. In addition to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, sidecars, package trucks and Servicars, Thede sold bicycles, Johnson marine engines and various British cycles. In 1938, Thede moved Illinois Harley-Davidson to a larger, three story building in Oak Park Illinois.

Illinois Harley 7577 Lake Street

When the war ended in 1945, Thede moved the dealership again, this time to a storefront at 7577 W. Lake Street in River Forest. The dealership continued to prosper, and by 1962 Thede made the move back to Oak Park, this time to 6510 W. Roosevelt Road.

In 1967, current owner Bob Maxant and his father Bob Maxant Sr. purchased Illinois Harley-Davidson from Mr. Thede. The purchase included the Oak Park dealership, two Electra Glides®, one Sportster® and a total of nineteen lightweight Sprints and Rapidos, manufactured by Aermacchi. Illinois Harley’s only employee, Jerry Kiesow, also came with the deal to help Bob and Senior manage their new dealership. Jerry was a mechanic, partsman and salesman, all-in-one.

Striker Lanes before it became Illinois Harley

In 1991, after several years of phenomenal growth, Illinois Harley was looking to move again. Bob found a location in nearby Berwyn that had plenty of space and ample parking: Striker Lanes bowling alley. Bob oversaw the transformation of Striker Lanes from 16-lane bowling alley into one of Chicagoland’s first factory “Designer Stores”, featuring a 28 foot tall neon eagle sign that’s still in operation today.

Just three short years later, in 1994, Illinois Harley ran out of room again! Bob arranged to purchase the adjacent trade school and parking lot, developed that into retail space and connected the two buildings with a fenced walkway capped by a 50 foot hand-painted mural. But even that didn’t solve the space problems. A second floor was added to the dealership’s “south building” providing 3,800 square feet for motorcycle storage, and soon after a third building was purchased. The new “south building” houses our Rider’s Edge classroom and machine shop and also adds much needed parking.

From our humble beginnings with Jerry, Bob and Senior in 1967, we’ve grown to over 50 employees in Sales, Service, Parts, Motorclothes and Accessories departments. If you’re looking to purchase a new or used Harley-Davidson, a new leather jacket or t-shirt or just the supplies for an oil change on your motorcycle, we look forward to seeing you at Illinois Harley-Davidson. If you have any questions or comments for us, please contact us.

The 2008 Illinois Harley-Davidson Crew