Getting off the Q12 in Bayside for the second time, I waited for Kathy to drive us to our next location in the neighborhood: Francis Lewis Boulevard. We drove through thin winding roads, passing trees, green lawns, and many houses before driving into the boulevard and parking in a lot nearby. During my trips to Bayside, I realized that the neighborhood is very much a residential or suburban area. Even when I exited Pesso’s Italian Ices, one of the first small businesses we interviewed, I was always facing houses with bright green front lawns, cars in driveways, or trees dotting every few feet of the sidewalk. It wasn’t unusual to see houses and parks grouped together on their own blocks, separate from stores. Small businesses and chain stores were also in their own area, usually closer to the bigger roads. Francis Lewis Boulevard was a good representation of this divide. On one side of the road, there were rows of shops ranging from bakeries to nail salons to laundromats that trailed down a few blocks while the other side harbored more trees, grass, and houses, and even a school.
Kathy and I were walking down the block that was lined with stores when we encountered a store with a sign that read “Roberts Bicycles” in capital letters and navy blue lettering. The front of the store was made of glass panels that allowed the sunlight to illuminate the interior of the store. Bold signs that read “Repairs & Services” and “Winter Clearance: $ale” were stuck against the large windows. Through the glass, we could immediately see a red and sky blue bicycle with two long rows of bicycles of all sizes right behind it. When we entered, we were greeted with the sight of more bicycles sitting on the floor, hanging on the side of the walls, and hanging on racks that were close to the white ceiling. Behind the counter were bike equipment, like locks and pink woven baskets, and another small room with tools and two men working on a bicycle with its wheels removed. The sound of soft pop music sounded in the air as we approached one of the men wearing a cap in the back. He had dropped his tools to smile at us and in a friendly manner, ask how he could assist us today. This man happened to be Craig, the owner of the bike shop, who readily agreed to an interview.
The front of “Roberts Bicycles”
Craig was born in Brooklyn, but moved out to Long Island when he was young. He currently still lives in Long Island and commutes to Bayside, Queens to run the bike shop. His father, the original owner, had opened the store in 1962. Since Craig was 15 years old, he worked in the shop. There, he had taken a liking to mechanical tasks and discovered he had an affinity for fixing bikes. When asked about how he feels about the work he does now, he replied that he still enjoys it. “Selling bike is kind of in my blood,” Craig jokes. He added that operating the small business has its other perks. For example, being the boss allows him to open and close the shop at any time he desires and that the business has provided a source of income which has allowed for decent life and money to pay for his children’s college tuition.
Craig, the owner of “Roberts Bicycles”
Regarding the neighborhood, Craig comments that Bayside back then was good, but that it has changed. He did not expand on the changes, but despite the difference, he still believes that Bayside is still a nice neighborhood and is “one of the better areas of Queens.”
While the neighborhood had undergone apparent changes, Craig states that the regular customers have not. “I have people who have bought bikes here when they were kids and have come back with their kids and bought bikes,” he said. “And even though people have moved out. . . we have a very good reputation. And that’s the big part of it. Word of mouth.” As the shop’s connections with old regulars have endured, new customers have also purchased from the shop. The customers often are recreational people, ranging from the ages of 5 to 70, who are looking to doing fitness or simply fun riding. The shop also now has different types of bikes and equipment, including more expensive bikes, to accommodate for new customers such as people who are interested in participating in triathlons.
Although encountering new customers and doing what he loves best is exciting, Craig mentions that there are several difficulties that make it hard to run his small business. The problems are tied to New York regulations. He says, “The city is squeezing all the small businesses. Any type of regulation whether it be, you [have] to have something on your plumbing or back float devices. Obviously, the real estate taxes keep going up. . . There’s no more street cleaners. We used to have street cleaners. Now they come out and give you a ticket because you haven’t [swept]. . .” An additional regulation that Craig has to consider is signage because he needs to pay for illuminating sign permits. Overall, he’s disappointed that city rules and regulations have such a huge toll on small businesses. “But you gotta do what you gotta do or else you get fined,” he says.
In the future, Craig does not plan to change the store drastically. The functionality of the store has always, and will always, be focused on two important aspects: sale, selling bicycles, and service, fixing bicycles. His only wish for change is to have more space in the shop because the store has already used the space available to its maximum potential. He displays as many bicycles as he can.
“Roberts Bicycle” leaves a simple, but lasting impression. The art of fixing bikes is timeless because it will always involve two wheels and two pedals. Craig describes his shop as “one of the rarities” because there are not many bicycle stores around nowadays. Thus, whether your purpose to is to purchase a brand new bike, have your bicycle fixed, or buy equipment, “Roberts Bicycle” would be an excellent shop to visit because Craig and his workers will be able to adjust to any needs.
BICYCLES OF MANY KINDS!
