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. When the war ended in 1945, Thede moved the dealership again, this time to a storefront at 7577 W. The dealership continued to prosper, and by 1962 Thede made the move back to Oak Park, this time to 6510 W. In 1967, current owner Bob Maxant and his father Bob Maxant Sr. purchased Illinois Harley-Davidson® from Mr. 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, parts man and salesman, all-in-one. In 1991, after several years of phenomenal growth, Illinois Harley-Davidson® 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-Davidson® 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. In 2011, Ozzie & Jill Giglio purchased Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson® from Neal Houbolt and Illinois Harley-Davidson from Bob Maxant. They merged and worked closely with the previous family keeping the classic, vintage yet edgy Illinois Harley-Davidson® dealership one of Chicagoland’s legacies and favorite stores to visit. The classic motorcycles on display date back to 1910. Vast amount of vintage memorabilia and photographs are showcased throughout the dealership. Illinois Harley-Davidson® has prevailed and premiered throughout the decades as a leading dealership serving tons of thousands of riders throughout Chicagoland and those traveling on Route 66.
