Ride-CT

Max BMW ADDING SECOND STORE IN CT

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

NEW YORK – Max BMW is growing again and will add a second store in Connecticut next year. It was exactly three years ago that Max Stratton (pictured at left) bought Cliff’s Cycle Revolution in Brookfield, CT and transformed it into Max BMW. The store joined his other outlets in Troy, NY and North Hampton, NH.

Talking at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in New York, Stratton revealed that he’s buying property at 1535 John Fitch Boulevard (Route 5) in South Windsor, CT and hopes to have his fourth BMW store open by Feb. 1.

“Found a great building. It’s an old boat dealership,” he said. The location has been the home of G & R Marine, which is moving. Stratton said he expects the deal to close next week.

After that, it’s a matter of giving the property a makeover to fit the BMW motif. “People are having to drive across the state (to Brookfield),” said Stratton, explaining that the expansion is “just to help out customers better.”

Stratton suggested that he doesn’t plan to quit with four BMW dealerships, either. “We’ll do more – once the dust settles,” he said.

(Posted Dec. 13, 2013)

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Keith Bruno Closes “The Shop” in Winsted, CT

Keith Bruno is closing The Shop. He held a day-long going-away party for customers and friends at his motorcycle customization and repair business at 920 Main Street in Winsted, CT on Saturday and plans to move to Myrtle Beach, SC later this week and open a new business.

Bruno attributes his decision to depart to the economy after experiencing “the worst two years in the business.” Having spent his life working in the motorcycle business, he opened The Shop in Winsted in 2009 and had two previous locations on Main Street before settling in at 920 Main Street.

Bike builder Billy Lane and Keith Bruno

Bruno said the moving of equipment from The Shop should begin today, with the truck due to pull out on Thursday. At his new shop on Route 17 in Myrtle Beach, Bruno will be a Sucker Punch Sallys dealer, the Arizona company that builds choppers and bobbers.

He thanked his Connecticut customers. “It’s been great. Thank you very much. Come down and see me in Myrtle Beach,” he said.

(Posted Nov. 17, 2013)