Historic Harley-Davidson Closes in Topeka
Steve Towers permanently shut the 77-year-old Topeka dealership on October 28, ending four generations of family ownership.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka, Kansas, ceased operations on October 28, 2025, after Steve Towers closed the dealership he had purchased from Mike Patterson in February 2025. The dealership had been established in 1949 and was family-owned by the Patterson family for four generations.
Why it matters
The closure is part of a string of recent Harley-Davidson dealership closures and affects Topeka residents who relied on the longtime local dealer. Towers said the decision reflected the dealership's performance, current market conditions and long-term business outlook.
The dealership operated for 77 years, from 1949 until its October 28, 2025 shutdown, under four generations of Patterson family ownership before Towers bought it in February 2025. The stub does not disclose the sales or financial figures that drove the decision, and it is unclear whether the closed location will be replaced.
The players
Steve Towers
Towers is CEO of a network of Harley-Davidson dealerships across the Midwest and Southeast, which now includes locations in Iowa, Nebraska, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Carolina.
Mike Patterson
Patterson sold Historic Harley-Davidson to Towers in February 2025 after his family had owned and operated the dealership for four generations.
The details
Towers announced the closure in a press release, saying the decision was based on the dealership's performance, current market conditions and long-term business outlook. The closure is part of a broader strategy to build up his business's long-term position, which now consists of six Harley-Davidson dealerships and several Big O Tire stores.
Timeline
1949: Patterson's grandfather establishes the dealership.
February 2025: Steve Towers purchases Historic Harley-Davidson from Mike Patterson.
October 28, 2025: Historic Harley-Davidson officially shuts down operations.
Market Landscape
The Topeka closure is one of several recent Harley-Davidson dealership shutdowns, reflecting the pressure on single-brand dealers that the stub associates with current market conditions. Towers's consolidation into a multi-state group of six Harley-Davidson dealerships alongside Big O Tire stores shows how dealer groups are reshaping ownership of longtime family franchises.
Topeka customers who used Historic Harley-Davidson for service, parts or sales will need to go to another dealer, including Towers's other Harley locations in the region. The closure removes a longtime local option for motorcycle maintenance and purchases in the city.
The takeaway
Motorcycle owners who rely on a single dealer should identify a backup service provider now, since dealership ownership and locations can change quickly.
Further reading
For more on local business changes, see Openings & Closings in Topeka.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Powersports Business.
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