Smith Brothers purchases Missouri motorsports dealership

QUINCY — It’s amazing what can happen on a golf course. 

A couple of guys, Andrew Smith, Sales Manager of Smith Brothers Sports, and Corey Haden of Hayden Motorsports hit the links a year or so ago, and casual conversations lead to a business agreement that will ensure the type of service Northeast Missouri has relied on since 1985.

Smith Brothers announced earlier this month the purchase of Haden Motorsports of Frankford, Mo.

Smith and Haden were at a dealer event when Corey mentioned that he wasn’t sure what the future held with his father, Bob, nearing retirement age. Bob Haden started the business in 1985 selling and repairing chainsaws and mowers. 

“If you guys think about selling or whatever, just give me a shout,” Smith said. “Then we played golf one day last year and kind of chatted about what it would look like. We hammered on a few of the details … just enough to get the conversation started. And here we are.”

A common thread ran though the conversations and then throughout the negotiations. 

“There’s a common trend in the powersports world right now,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of movement towards bigger groups buying up smaller stores. And it’s kind of losing the family-oriented, small business feel of powersport stores. There’s still some, but they are becoming the minority now. Both Haden’s and Smith Brothers place customer service very high. We both just wanted to keep the small-town roots around here.”

“A big box store wouldn’t last 6 months here,” Haden added. 

There won’t be any changes at Haden’s. You will still see Corey and his wife Kirsten around the shop. Bob will be dealing with customers he has known for decades.

“They’ve done such a fantastic job building up a reputable, great business for years,” Smith said. “We’re not looking to change that. We’re actually just looking to ensure that going forward that Northeast Missouri will continue to have Haden’s. 

Both powersports stores offer Honda products. Haden’s also offers Polaris and CanAm off-road vehicles plus Husqvarna and Stihl equipment. 

“It’s gonna pose challenges,” Smith admits. “But we’re excited about what the future looks like.”