A long-vacant property in Livonia, Michigan, is getting a high-end new life, as BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan prepares to transform the former Doc’s Sports Retreat into what is set to become the largest exclusive BMW motorcycle dealership in the country.
Dealership owner and Livonia native Charlie Knoll is spearheading the $6 million redevelopment of the 4-acre site near Seven Mile Road and I-275. The ambitious plan includes renovating and expanding the existing 15,000-square-foot building, which has been vacant since 2018, into a nearly 20,000-square-foot flagship facility for BMW Motorrad.
Knoll, who purchased the dealership in 2021 and the property in 2023, sees the project as both a business investment and a homecoming. “This property has been an eyesore for years, but it’s got so much potential,” Knoll says. “We’re going to turn it into a high-end dealership that embraces both the BMW brand and the natural setting of the site.”
The location’s scenic pond views and distinctive glass atrium will remain key design features, complemented by new construction and a full interior and exterior renovation. The surrounding area, which is frequented by ducks, swans, and deer, lends the space a more serene, nature-infused atmosphere than a traditional motorcycle showroom.
Livonia’s Planning Commission and City Council unanimously approved the redevelopment, with local officials praising both the brand and the long-awaited revitalization of a high-visibility site…