After more than six decades in the same family, Halls Harley-Davidson has been sold to another central Illinois family. The location at 2301 N. Dirksen Parkway will be rebranded as Simpson’s Harley-Davidson. New owners Rhett, Trent and Linn Simpson also own Andrae’s Harley Davidson in Urbana.
“I’m still physically in the building doing things and helping with the transition,” said Diane Hughes. “I was born one month after my parents bought the dealership, so this has definitely been a part of my life.”
Hughes’ parents, Stan and Pat Hall, purchased the business in 1962 from Lewis Crawford. At the time, it was known as Crawford’s Cycle Shop and located downtown at Third and Adams streets. A few years later, the business moved to 3755 N. Dirksen Parkway and the name became Hall’s Harley Davidson. It has been at the current North Dirksen location since 2003.
Hughes and her husband, Larry, both worked for the family business.
“My husband just turned 65 in October, so he’s retired now,” Hughes said. “My next chapter is still unfolding. But there’s a lot to get wrapped up, so that’s what we’ve been busy doing for the last couple weeks.”
Hughes said her father was 27 years old when he bought the business from Crawford, who was thinking of retiring.
“The Crawfords had it for 33 years, and that probably seemed like a long time. But my parents are 88 and 90 now, and they’ve had it for the last 63 years,” she said. “My parents are extremely proud of what they were able to build.”
Hughes said the business has brought the family in contact with people from all over the globe, including Route 66 travelers and people who come to Springfield to visit the Abraham Lincoln sites or attend the Springfield Mile.
“We can’t thank the people enough – not only Springfield and the surrounding communities, but people we have met from all over the world,” Hughes said. She said the dealership has a map on the wall with pins in it showing all the different places the customers live.
“We have friends in England who originally bought a T-shirt online from the dealership, and now they’ve come to the U.S. and visited us. It’s just amazing all the people we’ve met over the years who have become like family to us,” Hughes said.
“What we will continue to take with us going forward are the memories we have of 63 years,” she said. “We’re really proud of our legacy.”