Posted by Ella Kaplan '16
Located in the heart of the Arts District at 79 Beekman Street, Spa City Bicycleworks not only services and sells bicycles, but also offers an old-time model bicycle
Spa City Bicycleworks is housed in a building that used to be an Arts Coop. At the front of the building, the porch has rocking chairs in front of a neon blue bicycle sign and a painted plaque that says “Beekman Street Arts Coop”. The entrance is located up a ramp on the side of the building, where Rosco, Tone’s dog, typically waits to greet visitors. Inside, bikes, accessories, attire, and merchandise line the walls. Behind the register counter, a workshop area provides Tone space to do tune ups and repairs. Throughout the shop, different components express the historical and art-inspired “clubhouse” setting. Near the entrance old-fashioned candy machines welcome visitors, bicycle-inspired paintings and images hang on various doors and walls, and the back room has a couch and TV where customers can hang out and wait for repairs.
“clubhouse” experience. Tone, the owner, has integrated elements of history, art, and family to create this “clubhouse” rather than setting up a standard shop focusing solely on selling bicycles.
Spa City Bicycleworks is housed in a building that used to be an Arts Coop. At the front of the building, the porch has rocking chairs in front of a neon blue bicycle sign and a painted plaque that says “Beekman Street Arts Coop”. The entrance is located up a ramp on the side of the building, where Rosco, Tone’s dog, typically waits to greet visitors. Inside, bikes, accessories, attire, and merchandise line the walls. Behind the register counter, a workshop area provides Tone space to do tune ups and repairs. Throughout the shop, different components express the historical and art-inspired “clubhouse” setting. Near the entrance old-fashioned candy machines welcome visitors, bicycle-inspired paintings and images hang on various doors and walls, and the back room has a couch and TV where customers can hang out and wait for repairs.
“clubhouse” experience. Tone, the owner, has integrated elements of history, art, and family to create this “clubhouse” rather than setting up a standard shop focusing solely on selling bicycles.
Next to the building, a sculpture yard has a tree swing, a black barbeque, multiple racks of colorful bikes, a painted mannequin dressed in bicycle attire sitting on a bench, and scattered abstract stone sculptures. In the summers, people gather in this space to meet for a group bike ride, set up the barbeque, enjoy an art show, or simply just to hang out and use the Wi-Fi. Spa City Bicycleworks is so much more than a place to get your bike repaired to buy merchandise. It is a place to go to chat with Tone and his friend Matt about the ins and outs of the bicycling world, to learn about new trails and bike hubs, to organize group rides or art shows, to bring your family, or to simply hang out and listen to the old tunes that play such as the Beach Boy’s “Barbara Ann”. |