Performance Suzuki serves fun, practical riders

Melanie Sharp has a blast on her Suzuki Eiger 400 quad runner.

“My husband, Harvey, and I have some property across the street where we like to ride,” she said. “We like to get dirty and have fun.”

Perhaps that explains why the 29-year-old Houma resident traded a career in medical sales for her current gig at Performance Suzuki of Houma, a business she has managed and co-owned with Harvey Sharp since 2004.

Why not bring the fun to work?

“It had always been my husband’s dream to own a motorcycle and ATV store, and I really enjoy it, too,” Sharp explained.

Performance Suzuki of Houma offers hundreds of Suzuki-brand motorcycles, dirt bikes, cruisers and ATVs, Eton children’s ATVs and Schwinn scooters.

Children’s ATVs are a hot seller with the holiday season approaching.

But Sharp believes there are a lot of toys for the ‘bigger kids’ as well.

“This is a good time of year,” she said. “Parents can shop for their kids, as well as themselves. We have a lot of great deals going on.”

Those include a Suzuki ATV package that comes equipped with free protective gear. The store also offers a 90-days, same-as-cash deal on smaller ATVs.

One of the top sellers is the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa Sport Bike, which has undergone a makeover.

“A lot of people are really getting into this bike because it’s been completely redesigned,” Sharp said. “It looks brand new. People have been waiting the past two years for this (release).”

Performance Suzuki of Houma also has customers who patron the store for practical purposes.

Farmers and sugarcane growers are usually interested in 4-wheelers. Anglers use quads to pull boats. Hunters find them advantageous for hauling purposes.

Realizing their practicality, Performance Suzuki donated 20 quads in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita , with 15 going to Terrebonne, Lafourche and Jefferson parishes and five going to Grand Isle.

“We donated these because there were places where cars couldn’t make it across bridges,” Sharp said.

Sharp’s store will continue its dedication to philanthropy with its Performance Suzuki Bayou Bike Fest, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 9.

All proceeds will benefit the Child Advocacy Center and the Ronald McDonald House.

“We basically wanted to put on a bike show because we noticed that there aren’t that many around,” Sharp said. “With Christmas coming, we wanted a family event for people who like to ride. We also wanted to do something fun and give back to the community.”

Performance Suzuki of Houma is located at 1396 West Tunnel Blvd.

Store hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call (985) 872-4344.

Melanie Sharp (co-owner/business manager) and John Soileau (general manager) at Performance Suzuki of Houma. * Photo by CHRIS SCARNATI