Our History - A Tradition of Excellence in Central Alberta
There are plenty of people with an interest in motorcycles but few can match our leader, Glenn Turple's, passion for the industry. At 89 years old, he has accumulated over 1.7 million km aboard a long list of bikes over the years and continues to average some 25,000 km annually. He's also helped put motorcycles under many other people during a retail career spanning 64 years.
The longevity of Turple Bros. Ltd. is better appreciated when you consider the number of competitors that have come and gone since it officially opened in Red Deer in 1956: 34 motorcycle dealers and 74 snowmobile outlets by Glenn's count. First shop in downtown Red Deer, (1956) (left) Glenn Turple, (right) Rex Turple
Operated today by Glenn, his son Gordon and daughter Brenda Neufeld, and their partner Troy Dezall, the business was originally started by Glenn and his younger brother Rex in 1949. Glenn was the front end guy, known more for cruising while Rex spent much of his time racing and working on the machines in the background. He enjoyed hill climbing, motocross as well as flat track racing. Basically anything he could get into. Rex had a home full of trophies and a strong following of young riders who wanted to follow in his footsteps. Unfortunately Rex was lost to cancer in 1990.
The brothers were born in Cereal, Alberta, but spent much of their childhoods on a farm near Olds. It was Glenn who bought a used Harley-Davidson® when he completed high school in 1946 and not too soon after, he and Rex combined resources to order a Panther motorcycle from England. Glenn relinquished his interest in the Panther the following year and bought an Ariel, which he in turn traded for a Triumph. "It was just an interest in some economical transportation," he said of his wheeling and dealing. "It didn't start out as being a business, that's for sure." Glenn and Rex's father tolerated the brothers' preoccupation with motorcycles, assuming it would be temporary. "He thought he might as well let us do it and get it out of our systems."
Early renovations to downtown shop
But, by 1949, Glenn and Rex were operating Olds Motorcycle Sales from a farm near town and it became clear that the love of motorcycles was an itch that would never get scratched. Seven years later they relocated to Red Deer hoping to take advantage of the bigger market. "Red Deer was a booming city of 13,000." said Glenn, adding that their Gaetz Avenue location put them directly on what was then, the main highway between Calgary and Edmonton. More renovations and expansion of downtown shop
Over the next 44 years, Turple Bros. Ltd.. underwent seventeen additions and renovations. "We initially dealt in British and German bikes, but had an active trade in old Harley-Davidson®'s as well." Glenn recalls.
In 1959, when Honda began exporting bikes from Japan the brothers obtained the rights to sell Honda products. They then added Ski-Doo snowmobiles in 1965. "Honda ATVs followed around 1970", said Glenn, who was a little skeptical about these strange vehicles. "It was just an oddity to us at the time." Then, Suzuki arrived in 1988 followed by KTM dirt bikes in 2005 and their full line-up of street bikes in 2012.
Located at 175 Leva Avenue, Red Deer County (Gasoline Alley) since 2000, Turple Bros. employs more than 30 and carries motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles and personal watercraft. We also sells parts and accessories, as well as equipment like lawn mowers, generators and small engines.
The biggest step came in 2000 when Turple Bros. Ltd.. left its patchwork of buildings in what was now downtown Red Deer to build an exceptional new, 46,000 square foot facility on 'Gasoline Alley' which once again put them directly on the main artery connecting Alberta's two largest cities, Highway 2. "We've had to work a lot harder since we moved out here because we've had a lot more business. We worked some terrible hours!" says Glenn smiling as he remembers averaging sixty hours a week.
Another landmark event in 2000 was Turple Bros. Ltd.. being named the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce's small business of the year in the large business category. Careful business practices have been important to the business's success though plenty of sweat has certainly gone into the company over the years. "Fairness and honesty have been important to the growth of Turple Bros. Ltd.." says Glenn, "These should be key ingredients for any business." And it helps to have as genuine an interest in the products you sell as Glenn does. "Some do reasonably well without it, but I guess I really enjoy the use of the product. It definitely helps create enthusiasm when you're genuinely interested." Central Alberta's surging economy can also be credited for much of the business's prosperity over the years, "It's a great area to be in."
Now dealing with the grandchildren of former customers, Glenn doesn't appear ready to walk away from the world of motorcycles. Last year he put more than 31,000 km onto his Honda Goldwing, and he still works 30 plus hours a week.
Check out our Anniversary Magazine
Contact Us
Call us today at 403.346.5238, stop by, or send us an email and find out how our team can help you find the Can-Am®, Honda, KTM, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Spyder, Suzuki, and Yeti SnowMX you've been looking for! We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
contact usTurple Bros. Ltd. is conveniently located near the areas of Edmonton, Calgary, Wetaskiwin, Camrose, Leduc, Grande Prairie, and Medicine Hat.
