The Materne Family with Piaggio USA's Mike Cunningham at Grand Opening of Vespa New Orleans 1st location in 2002

It was there that Gayle and Stephen Materne, and their sons Zachary and Maxwell, fell in love with Vespas. After watching the city of Rome run on two wheels, Gayle and Steve decided to bring this European efficiency to the Crescent City.

Upon returning home and researching the scooter market, the Maternes discovered that Piaggio, the manufacturer of the Vespa, was returning to the U.S. market and seeking dealers to perpetuate the Italian scooter lifestyle. In July 2002 the doors of Vespa New Orleans were opened in Mid City.

In April of 2005 the Materne family broke ground on a new, larger location in downtown New Orleans that was scheduled to open in October 2005. On August 29th, 2005 the failure of the levees due to the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Mid-City location and delayed the completion of the new location Downtown location.

Our Toulouse Street location under water one day after Hurricane Katrina

Between the destruction of the Mid City store and the Downtown location completion date as unknown as the repopulation timetable of New Orleans, the Maternes decided to bloom where they had been planted and opened a store out of a house in Baton Rouge 30 days after the storm. In November 2005 the store moved to a larger Airline Hwy location. They closed the Baton Rouge location in December 2006.

In Feburary 2006 by the grace of God and committment of amazing people, Vespa New Orleans re-opened in their new downtown location. The opening of the new store was one more highlight in the rebuilding of New Orleans.

The summer of 2007 brought growth with the addition of Triumph Motorcycles. Triumph and Vespa being the perfect marriage of two premium products. Not to mention the age old Mods vs. Rockers relationship. And it also adds a new chapter to the story.

In August 2008 Ducati was also added to our lineup. With the addition of Triumph and Ducati Motorcycles the store name has officially changed to The Transportation Revolution, home of Ducati, Triumph & Vespa New Orleans.

For all of your two wheel needs, The Transportation Revolution is here to serve you!