So over the winter months on occasional visits to the dealer, I chat with the various folks.

Sales guy say "business is great!", ok he's a sales guy, eternal optimist. Parts guy in January - "we're selling bikes". Ok, interesting.

Delivery guy picked up my bike yesterday says he un-crated 7 bikes yesterday.

I'd say they are doing pretty well for a supposedly economically devestated area.

 

Considering I heard that the unemployment rate was something like 50% I'd say that is good news. What was the unemployment rate in Detroit during the good economic times?

 

Some interesting data on this site, if you like statistics.

http://www.bls.gov/lau/tables.htm

 

Even crazier is that there are 5 dealerships within an hour's drive of anyone in the Detroit metro area. Click here

 

Gilberts HD in Port Huron has Closed one store and laid people off in the last couple of months?

 

Well it's a good sign for Detroit and Harley. I thought I read a while back that the city didn't have a single GM dealer anymore. They all closed?

 

No, there are still lots of them in the burbs.
I just leased a new jeep and the financing is through GMAC for a Chrysler product, strange.

 

The actual city doesn't have much of anything anymore. A recent article about school nutrition claimed that city doesn't have any real grocery stores now and the kids are stuck getting their food from convenience stores and fast food places. And after a quick search for some major chains, it looks like it was correct.

Anyway, back on topic. I purchased 2 new bikes from a dealer south of Jackson in late January and the dealer was pretty busy every time I went in. I've gone in a couple more times since then and had to wait in line at the parts counter every time.

 

I guess the bank robbin' biz is pretty good too.

 

This is the reason for high unemployment rates in Detroit.