By Staff
HARLEY DAVIDSON RELOCATION – Meurice and Peggy LeFevre are working to relocate the current B Street location of Chunky River Harley Davidson into a state of the art facility. A new building is under construction near Bonita Lakes Mall. Photo by Carisa McCain / The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 9, 2002
Longtime Atlanta businessman Meurice LeFevre fell in love with Meridian.
And on a trip to town in January 2000, his future was sealed when he bought a Harley Davidson from a local dealership a move that led him to buy the business and move to Meridian.
Today, LeFevre and his wife, Peggy, who is originally from Meridian, have been running Chunky River Harley-Davidson/Buell on B Street for six months.
The couple plans to open a new $2.5 million state-of-the-art store on South Frontage Road near Bonita Lakes Mall sometime this fall.
LeFevre buys dealership
LeFevre and his wife had visited Meridian yearly for more than 25 years. LeFevre, a self-professed "Harley nut" since he was 12, said his first Harley purchase in Meridian was fate.
LeFevre said construction of the new building should start "within the next three or four weeks."
Firm designs building
The LeFevres chose Atlanta-based architectural firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback &Associates Inc. to design the building the same company that designed the Georgia Dome, the World Congress Center and the Mall of Georgia.
Robert D. McKerrow, principal architect with the firm, said his group came to Meridian earlier this year to get a feel for the city before designing the new store.
And, LeFevre said, he and his wife have been planning the store interior for the past two years as well. He said it "will be one the top Harley stores in the country when it's finished."
New ideas
LeFevre said he and Peggy visited Harley dealerships in the United States, Italy, France and Germany.
LeFevre said the new store will include 10,000 square feet of showroom space; an upstairs entertainment room that will include a pool table and pinball machine for Harley Owners Group members; and modern office and shop space.
He said the property just off the interchange of Interstate 20/59 and Highway 19 South was a perfect place for the store.