I was out in Western PA yesterday and ran across the abandoned Ernest Cerini H-D dealership in Donora, PA. It was in business from 1925 until it was shut down in 2009. It is still full of NOS items and it looked like nobody had been in there in years. This is what the Motor Company used to be about. Not any more.
Someone there looks to be sitting on a gold mine. Need American pickers to go through and get some of that stuff out of those boxes and back into circulation. Just on the other side of my hometown. Have to remember that next time I get back there.
I wonder if it is still owned by the Cerini Family.
I'd love to retire and open a Harley Shop just like that.
Gonna hafta plan a trip to Donora, PA to check it out.
Mike U.
sad how times keep flying by. That would be a great place to explore and see what yesteryear was about. Much cooler than the boutique shops that are in place today.
That is really cool. It reminds me of an auto parts/machine shop I was in last year. Although not that old. But walking through the front door was like a time warp.
Who ever owns it prolly has visions of doing something else with it. I saw some airplane kits in one of the photos. Probably just can't quite let go of the Harley stuff yet. Or it's one that the MoCo shuttered for not building a new facility. I understand that some of those law suits are yet to be resolved.
After reading about the original owner and his son I would drive and pay just to walk around that place. The customer service at most dealerships sucks anymore. It makes the guys that do it right really stand out. He sounded like an amazing guy and a great American!
I live in western PA and went to Cerinis several times. Ernest went by the nickname Babe. One time I tried to buy the HD bi-wing airplane model they had on display but very quickly his wife, who was always behind the counter, let me know it was NOT for sale. She was the boss and Babe knew it.
As I recall, they built and moved into a new building closer to the main highway. The son was running the business but went out of business within a couple years of the move.
Wish I would've known when I was back in my home town a few years ago. Bad enough we lost Zanotti's. had to go down 422 a bit to find the other dealer. Can't even remember the name now.
I work really close to this closed dealership. I am surprised they let you inside. Would be cool to go walk around inside. I might have to run down there and look around.
I live out that way too my dad was from butler i remember zannotis as a chile i remeber all of the golf carts... We still have mcmahon's in beaver falls its a small dealership with a bit of the old school feel but nothing like those places
yeah we had a great dealership here in White Plains NY. Reggie Pink. Harley forced them to move to a much larger space across the street, 2008 Wall Street crash happened and it went belly up.
Great local place, could always just walk in a get an inspection, oil change etc.
This was the only image I could find on the net.
Reminds me of the "original" Southside Harley Davidson dealership when it was located on south Meridian St. in downtown Indianapolis; before H-D forced them to relocate to the outskirts, next to the interstate on what used to be the far southside of the city. Thankfully they have thrived and remained faithful to good customer service and the service department is top notch, at least in my experience with them. But I have to admit, I miss the "old" Southside H-D. Nice thread w/some great links by RedRover. Thanks all.
A few years ago I stumbled into a dealership in Winnipeg that was closing and had a few things left, Lone Star HD. The guy in the place let me rummage through the few things they had left and gave me a token as a keepsake. Hate seeing these old places go under.
We used to go to Cerini's quite a bit. They were open Sundays & were close. The old man Ernest, would not sell you a part if your bike was modified. My friend had park about 2 blocks away to buy parts. When his son Babe took over, it was a little better. Harley wanted them to near the interstate. Babe died before the new store was finished. Mrs. Cereni and the two boys opened the new shop near Belle Vernon, Pa. The boys could not get along. The boys split, one opened a new Harley shop in Union Town, Pa. Both shops eventually closed. Harley took the Belle Vernon store back. A little while the Uniontown store closed, lack of business. One of the brothers reopened the shop in Donora as a independent shop. Went out of business, not enough clientele. The Motor Company was going to buy the original shop a move it to Milwaukee. It never happened.
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