Full Throttle: Navigating City Hurdles to Land Triumph Motorcycles a Prime Santa Monica Home

Triumph Motorcycles

For more than 100 years, Triumph's passion and innovation have shaped the evolution of the motorcycle. With an unparalleled history of legends, from category-defining motorcycles to racing icons, Triumph is one of the world's most well-known and best-loved motorcycle brands.

When a Triumph distributor reached out about finding a new location for a showroom and service center, we were excited to help guide them through the process.

After our initial meeting, we knew we were working with true motorcycle enthusiasts, people who genuinely wanted to help others experience the fun and adventure a quality motorcycle can bring into their lives.

They wanted to offer the best in new and pre-owned motorcycles, backed by a solid maintenance program, which is essential for high-performance bikes. They also wanted to add customization services for anyone looking to make their bike their own, and they wanted to be in Santa Monica, CA, a higher-end beach city community in Los Angeles.

Finding the Right Space in a Challenging Market

We discussed the type of property they were looking for, and we knew right away this was going to be a tough search, as the city essentially had a moratorium on new automotive uses, and space was very limited.

We reviewed everything on the market and immediately began calling on properties that fit their parameters and desired location, working through both on- and off-market options.

One property in particular stood out to them, but we knew the process would be lengthy, and the space wasn't large enough to accommodate the customization area they wanted.

Looking Beyond the Available Inventory

We kept searching, but also started reaching out to neighboring properties near their favorite site, hoping an owner might be willing to sell or that a lease might be coming up soon enough for us to step in.

It took time, but they eventually decided to move forward on their favorite property, a site that was previously a rental car center that did some maintenance on their vehicles as well.

We got it under contract and began the approval process with the City of Santa Monica.

Navigating the City Approval Process

It was still a complicated process, as the city had numerous requirements we needed to meet. Even though the site was previously used for automotive purposes, it was for rentals—not sales—and still needed city approval.

Frustrations mounted as new requirements kept surfacing, including some unexpected capital expenditures and previous unclosed permits.

Fortunately, the business owner was as patient as anyone could ask for, and the landlord agreed to work with us through the unexpected changes the city was requiring.

Together, they were ultimately able to meet every requirement.

A Prime Santa Monica Home for Triumph

Today, the owner has a beautiful new location on a prime Santa Monica street, doing bustling business.

What began as a challenging search in a market with limited inventory became a lesson in the persistence that can sometimes be required to get a commercial real estate transaction across the finish line.

From identifying on- and off-market opportunities to working through unexpected city requirements, the process took time—but ultimately resulted in the right home for the business.

Ready to Hit the Road?

If you're looking for a new ride, stop by 1710 Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica and check out their inventory.

Pick out your favorite bike and enjoy the road ahead.