Deep roots: BMW motorcycle dealership has long history in Cape Girardeau

There is a culture of BMW motorcylists out there who like to travel and tend to make the nearest dealership their headquarters.

In 1993, a BMW motorcycle shop found a home in downtown Cape Girardeau and since has become a staple in the historic district. Today, the business is booming.

On Saturday, the owners of Grass Roots BMW Motorcycles at 28 Spanish St. celebrated the grand opening of its expansion, and about 200 motorcyclists met and made some noise in Southeast Missouri.

The principal owner, Herb Anderson, and his wife, Reno, grew up in Canada and have lived all over, including Africa, California and Kentucky. Wherever they ended up, their motorcycles came with them.

When their two children were teenagers, the Andersons sold their house and spent a year on the road riding motorcycles. The children pursued "home" schooling.

Riders came from numerous states for the Grass Roots BMW expansion party on Saturday in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

"They were road scholars," said Reno Anderson, who is the marketing manager of Grass Roots. "Matter of fact, they had the highest marks they've ever gotten."

According to David Zimmer, one of the individuals instrumental in bringing Grass Roots to Cape Girardeau, there is a vast network of BMW riders who meet one another at one of the scattered BMW dealerships in the United States or through the national club on the Internet, and tour the world together.

Zimmer, who has ridden every BMW model that has come out, said the Germans designed the BMW motorcyle in 1923 to be durable, low-maintenance bikes that are comfortable and good on mileage. He said he has seen BMW motorcycles make it to 425,000 miles, and he's heard of the bike making it to 600,000.

Reno Anderson said half of their BMW customers are from Southeast Missouri, but they've also had customers drop in from Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. They've had people all the way from Quebec, Canada, on their way to Brazil.

According to Reno Anderson, there are certain distinctions between customers who buy BMWs, Hondas and Harley-Davidsons. Those who drive Hondas, especially the men and women driving the popular Gold Wings series, typically wear matching clothes and like to go to rallies and big trade shows. There are Harley people who like the chrome look and wear black leather, she said, adding that some just like the image. They may not own a hog, but they'll wear a Harley T-shirt. Then there are the BMW motorcycle drivers who, according to Reno Anderson, are individuals who like the sense of adventure the bike can provide.

Grass Roots BMW in downtown Cape Girardeau saw all makes and models at its expansion party Saturday. Beamers were alongside Harleys and Hondas as motorcycle enthusiasts came out for test drives and food.

Reno Anderson said she had a Honda driver come in who liked the look of the BMW and asked if he could put a ring of lights around the wheels easily. "I think you're not ready for a BMW yet," Reno Anderson responded.

According to last year's Harley-Davidson annual report, the Harley corporation sells nearly half the motorcycles in the world. The company doesn't place its dealers in direct competition with one another, and the closest retailer to Cape Girardeau is Minor's Harley-Davidson in Scott City.

"Harley's part of Americana," said Minor's sales manager Ethan Noyes. "That's the big thing. There's a lot of tradition there."

BMW bike fans

Still, BMW motorcycles do have a market, although the company does the majority of its business through car sales.

At Grass Roots, at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday up to 20 area BMW motorcyclists take a ride to the shop and go out to eat together.

One of the Wednesday night riders, Sean Gardner from Southern Illinois, recently purchased a bike from the shop. "BMW stands for the best motorcyle in the world," he said.

Since Herb Anderson became the principal owner and general manager of Grass Roots last year, the overall square footage of the shop has doubled and the size of the showroom has quadrupled after he took over Custom Designs space next door. Grass Roots was recognized by BMW Motorrad USA for outstanding parts performance for 2006; it exceeded its goal in parts sales by more than any of the other 140 dealers across the country. Anderson's staff sold 140 bikes last year, 68 of which were new. Herb Anderson said sales have doubled since he started. The year Grass Roots came to Cape Girardeau, only one bike was sold.

Dave Bork, described by his co-workers as an encyclopedia of BMW motorcycle knowledge, has been with Grass Roots since the late 1970s, when the business literally had its roots in grass: It was a lawn mower shop in Carbondale, Ill. Bork, who rode a BMW motorcycle at the time, convinced the owner to apply for a BMW dealership license, and by 1983 the business sold motorcycles, along with the mowers.

History and flavor

After Bork brought the bikes to Illinois, David Zimmer, and Chris, Jeff and Dave Hutson of Cape Girardeau began frequenting the shop on their motorcycles. One day they noticed Grass Roots was going up for sale, so they made an offer and ultimately brought the shop -- along with Bork -- across the bridge, where they would focus strictly on selling motorcycles.

John Simmons, another BMW motorcycle enthusiast, started working at the shop as a part-time mechanic in 1999, and within four years he bought out everyone's ownership, except for Dave Hutson's. Simmons also was a chef and musician and, because of scheduling conflicts, he sold his share of the business to Herb Anderson, who used to visit the shop, last year.

"When I bought this business, I bought a good reputation," said Herb Anderson, who's been riding motorcycles for almost 30 years. "We like Old Town Cape. We like the history, the flavor, the proximity. The location is ideal for us. A lot of our customers come right across the bridge."

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137