Once a fixture on a busy auto-repair strip, a popular motorcycle dealership has found a new location, and expended its product line.
Shelby’s Powersports USA, formerly located on 1370 Blondell Avenue, moved to 1444 Commerce Avenue in January into a bigger location to remove themselves from one of the most traffic congested and commercial streets in the Bronx.
Instead of renewing the lease at the Blondell Avenue location, Shelby owners Nat and Angela Annamalai came to the conclusion that more space was needed for their business and a change of scenery would also benefit their customers.
Not only has Shelby Powersports increased the sales and repair of Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycles and scooters, but have also established an affordable car rental service.
“We consider ourselves part of the community, and we certainly want to help the people of our community,” Angela Annamalai said. “A lot of our customers and other residents are often in need of a rental car when they are without transportation or their transportation is being repaired. We want to offer them a rental service at an affordable rate.”
As an authorized rental service of Affiliated Car Rental L.C., Nat Annamalai thought offering a rent-a-car service would be a great addition to his and his wife’s business, and slowly began to incorporate it into Shelby Powersports USA in October 2010.
Although the business quickly moved to its new location shortly after the addition of Sensible Car Rental, the ‘business within a business’ quickly became recognized and has started to take off.
Shelby Powersports USA specializes in the motorcycle business, but the owners incorporated the car rental aspect of the business to help sustain the business and its employees, during the motocyccle off season, which is between October and March when the weather becomes inclement.
“It’s difficult for our type of business in New York when the weather gets cold and nobody is buying or using their motorcycles,” said Nat Annamalai. “With the car rental business we are able to keep our company going when business is slow.”
As of March, the rental selection consisted of three cars, but according to Nat Annamalai, they plan to have up to five cars during the spring, and possibly up to 10 to 12 cars within the next year.
“We are just starting here, but our selection consists of cars from 2009 on,” he said. “We can provide oil changes and minor mechanical work for our cars, but if any major work is ever needed, we have certified mechanics that will repair the cars for our cliental.”
Rates for rentals begin at $34.95 per day. For more information, contact Sensible Car Rental at (347) 691-3450.
