CENTERTOWN, Mo. - The Cruising Crowe's motorcycle shop is the culmination of a long journey that began at rummage sales and continues as an effort to help revitalize the small village of Centertown.
Cruising Crowe's Parts and Accessories is a motorcycle-oriented retail store and mechanic's shop, offering affordable parts, accessories and consignment sales. Its owners and operators, Theresa Hedrick and Mike Crowe, want to make their shop a motorcycle riders' destination and attract more people to their town, surrounded by winding blacktops and rich rural scenery.
The shop opened in April 2017, but saved its grand opening for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28 to align with a Freedom of the Road Riders Poker Run that begins at the 11806 Main Street location. Hot dogs and beverages will be offered along with a 50/50 drawing to benefit the development of the Centertown Children's Park and a drawing for a Cruising Crowe's hoodie. The last bike participating in the Poker Run will leave Centertown around noon for a cruise ending at 6 p.m. at The Waterin' Hole Bar and Grill in Jamestown. Poker run proceeds will go towards funding the Freedom of the Road Riders' efforts to promote motorcyclists' rights legislation.
The store owners hope area residents will attend, whether they have a motorcycle or not, to learn about their business and help support Centertown.
Before obtaining their own brick and mortar business, Hedrick and Crowe's partnership began as rally vendors, selling parts and accessories at motorcycle rallies and other events.
Hedrick initially met Crowe nine years ago, when she hired him to work on her Camdenton house before it went up for sale. The handyman proved useful enough for Hedrick to keep around and is now the shop's mechanic.
"He rode a motorcycle, and I used to ride with friends back when I was younger, so he more or less reintroduced it to me and taught me how to ride," Hedrick said.
Her partner even bought her a three-wheeled trike motorcycle after suffering a two-wheeler-related injury, and Hedrick said the gift brought her to tears.
In 2012, the two decided to turn Hedrick's rummage sale hobby into a business and began to attend rallies selling Harley-Davidson gear and equipment.
They saw a need for the motorcycle treasures, especially for young riders who can't afford more expensive merchandise. "The rallies would be their only vacation, and they had kids, and it's expensive to have a motorcycle," Hedrick said. "We would be able to offer them Harley stuff and parts at a cheaper rate for them."
Hedrick said Cruising Crowe's is different from other area motorcycle shops, because they offer consignment and use the business to promote their small town.
Crowe said they plan to host dinner rides throughout the year to attract more riders and promote area eateries.
"There's so many riding places to go, like in Tennessee and Branson, where you have big hills and curvy roads," Hedrick said. "That's what bikers seek is curvy roads. We are in between major highways, and we do have a wonderful area here with a lot of curvy roads, as well."