Sea Breeze Harley-Davidson

The Harley-Davidson dealership in Shallotte has changed owners and names, and as Sea Breeze Harley-Davidson, it is committed to excellent customer service and building a strong riding community.

I have been riding motorcycles for 58 years starting at age 19. I have ridden a few different brands in that time and I’ve enjoyed nearly every minute, except for the times I rode in rain or cold weather impractically attired. Alas, weather is part of the deal on two wheels.

But I have never enjoyed it more — even in inclement weather — than I have on my Harley, which I bought down here after I retired to SEBC six years ago. And I was ecstatic to have a competent, convenient Harley-Davidson dealership in Shallotte on Highway 17 just 3 miles from my home.

However, this dealership, the venerable Beach House Harley-Davidson, which faithfully served me and thousands of other Harley owners (both local and just passing through), is history.

The good news is that the gleaming chateau of a building and immaculate grounds are still there. It has a new name and new owners bent on making bikers part of their expanding family.

Called Sea Breeze Harley-Davidson, it and its sister business, Shipwreck Harley-Davidson in Wilmington, were both recently purchased by a group that now owns eight of the dealerships dedicated to the legendary American icon.

And their mission is simple: to become the premier HD dealership in the Carolinas.

Freddy Tedesco and Will Cole, minority owners, hit the ground running, considering that in their first 60 days of operation, they have trebled the number of bike sales from the previous business.

The two met at a general manager training academy. Will graduated the program the day Freddy began, and they went to a dinner where they were told to sit with somebody you don’t know. And a partnership based on principles was born.

“We’re always going to be fair and ethical with folks; we are led by doing the right thing by our customers,” says Tedesco, 40, the dad of a 16-year-old daughter. Integrity matters to us. We’re going to do the right thing no matter who knows or who’s looking.”

“Even if our bottom line suffers,” Cole adds.

Tedesco also happens to be the licensed pilot of a Cirrus SR 20, which gives him access to either ILM or Odell Williamson airports to conduct his business when he is needed elsewhere. Usually, he is manning the Florence, South Carolina, dealership called BlackJack Harley-Davidson.

Cole is just 34. He recently moved his family to ILM from Virginia to oversee Shipwreck Harley-Davidson (formerly Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson) in that location. He is the dad of twins — a boy and a girl — and a 3-year-old girl as well. His father, Charlie Cole, is the majority owner.

When queried about the name change, Tedesco and Cole both allowed that Sea Breeze was in keeping with the area, while Shipwreck was associated with the many submerged results of nautical contretemps during the Civil War blockades in the Cape Fear and off Wrightsville Beach.

The N.C. coast is not called the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” for nothing.

“Although we both liked the original name of the dealerships, rebranding was necessary,” Tedesco says. “You need to put your own stamp on what you’re selling.”

And what are they selling besides machinery, service clothing and accessories?

”While we make business decisions in corporate mode, we treat our employees and customers as family,” Cole says.  “We’re not in the business solely for transactions. We’re in the business to create customers as family for life.”

Both men stated that the purchase process was exceptionally smooth, as the previous owners Rick and Janice Noyes were “great to work with.”

“It was [also] the first acquisition we’ve participated in where we retained 100% of the staff — and 90% of them are still here,” Tedesco says

Another area that they are optimistic about is their relationship with the local H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Chapter. Affiliated with a given dealership, these organizations run co-sponsored events, organize rides and generally work together with the dealership.

The current H.O.G. membership in Shallotte (of which the missus and I are members) — Beach House H.O.G.— is expected to be retired and a new group begun — the Sea Breeze H.O.G. Members and owners are working presently to make that transition as smooth as the purchase. With both groups recognizing the importance of the relationship being a symbiotic partnership, that should not prove a daunting task.

With publicized plans for multiple dealership-based events, an aggressive, stepped-up social media presence and even service-related videos, both Tedesco and Cole seem to be laying the groundwork for success.

“There’s a reason we sell more motorcycles than anyone in the Carolinas, and I’d encourage anyone who’s thinking of pulling the trigger on a new or used bike to give us a shot,” Tedesco says.

Whether you are a biker or a pillion rider, Sea Breeze and Shipwreck want you.

Because family takes care of family. And my second family is still only 3 miles away.

Check them out:
Sea Breeze Harley-Davidson
100 Harley Davidson Drive, Shallotte
(910) 575-9997
seabreezehd.com