The abrupt closure of Redmond’s Ducati location has left members of the community surprised.

“It’s shocking,” Redmond resident Bill Chappell said. “They are the main Ducati dealership on the [Eastside]…it’s unfortunate.”

Chapell said he bought his bike from the Ducati Redmond three months ago. He said he had gotten a flat tire during the time of the closure but did not receive any type of notice about why the shops, including the one in Redmond suddenly closed.

On Sept. 19, NobleRush closed five of its dealerships: Ducati Redmond, two multi-brand dealerships in Auburn, Ducati Seattle and BMW Motorcycles of Seattle.

The Reporter learned that the dealerships’ owner, Microsoft group program manager Howard Crow, abruptly shut all dealerships’ doors without any notice to the employees, leaving many without jobs. Crow abruptly shut the doors with customers’ motorcycles in the service department, parts and accessories orders unfulfilled. According to several reports, the only public explanation to date are financial hardships. Many social media posts claimed that staff and employees were working without pay to return bikes and provide some service.

The abrupt closures left many customers worried.

“Still haven’t heard from them. Ordered $450 worth of parts and when I went to get them the building is locked up,” one online comment read.

Another commenter asked, “How am I going to get my bike service?”

Despite the closure, Chappell believes if enough owners get together and bring a “small change of money” they can save a dealership.

“Something is going to happen,” he said. “This is too big of an area not to happen.”

The Reporter called and emailed Ducati Redmond for comment but had not been returned by deadline.