Washington dealership adds BMW showroom

BMW Motorrad USA has further expanded its brand in the state of Washington with the addition of BMW Motorcycles of Prosser. The new BMW motorcycle dealership, also home of Desert Valley Powersports, offers a complete line of BMW motorcycles, parts, accessories, apparel and service capabilities in an exclusive new 2,500-square-foot retail showroom.

“When we built our Prosser dealership in 2007, we designed it with the intention of representing a premium brand like BMW. Now, our dreams are a reality,” said owner Dan Denchel, who opened Desert Valley Powersports with his wife, Michelle, in 1991 in the neighboring city of Sunnyside.

That dealership, originally named Sunnyside Motorcycle Co., was located in a small building off the Yakima Valley Highway — a humble beginning for what has evolved, 18 years later, into 26,000-square-foot facility located off Exit 80 on Interstate 82 between Yakima and the Tri-Cities.

“This is not your average motorcycle store,” Denchel said. “The space incorporates lots of high-end architectural and design elements that guide customers from one product area to another. We have gone the extra mile to make shopping for a motorcycle fun and enjoyable. It’s like a big toy store.”

Denchel, who has ridden motorcycles for more than 45 years, says he was smitten with the idea of owning a motorcycle dealership many years ago, while working at an automobile dealership owned by his parents.

“There was a motorcycle dealership next door, and every time I went in, I said to myself, ‘I could do this better,’” he said.

Now, he and other members of the Denchel family are doing just that. Michelle handles the accounting side of the business, while two of the couple’s three sons also pitch in.

“We are delighted to have the Denchel family and Desert Valley Powersports represent the BMW brand,” said Lou Provato, dealer development manager for BMW Motorrad USA. “We are confident BMW will be a welcome addition to the motorcycling community in that part of the state as it offers an abundance of adventure touring opportunities.”

Located in Washington’s wine region (with more than 40 wineries and distilleries nearby) and within riding distance to Canada, Oregon, Idaho and the magnificent Cascade, Rockies and Bitterroot Mountain ranges, the Prosser dealership is an ideal site for staging rides.

“Our facility is situated on over three acres and our parking lot can accommodate 1,500 motorcycles,” Denchel said. “There are nice hotels nearby and an RV park right across the street. We’re happy to help plan trips for our customers. We understand that the journey is just as important as the destination.”