Heritage Bicycles General Store Opening in Lakeview

New Concept Shop Opening in Chicago’s North Side Neighborhood January 28

Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
  • Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
    Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
    Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
    Heritage Bicycle General Store to Open in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood January 28. Will feature locally handcrafted bicycles and communal-style cafe.
  • "Daisy," the fist mixte bicycle designed for Heritage Bicycle General Store, is reminiscent of retro bicycles made stateside years ago.
    "Daisy," the fist mixte bicycle designed for Heritage Bicycle General Store, is reminiscent of retro bicycles made stateside years ago.
    "Daisy," the fist mixte bicycle designed for Heritage Bicycle General Store, is reminiscent of retro bicycles made stateside years ago.
    "Daisy," the fist mixte bicycle designed for Heritage Bicycle General Store, is reminiscent of retro bicycles made stateside years ago.

CHICAGO (January 13, 2012) – There’s a new makeover of sorts approaching for Chicago’s bike lanes and paths, and it’s coming in the form of custom mixte bicycles. Heritage Bicycles General Store, primed to celebrate its grand opening in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood January 28, will offer an eclectic mix of locally handcrafted bicycles and accessories.

Nestled near the intersection of Lincoln, Southport and Wellington Avenues, the open floor plan store will double as a communal style café. Passers by and casual bikers can stop in to enjoy a hot coffee or pastry and watch skilled mechanics assemble or maintain bikes on site.

“Chicago has great coffee houses and bike shops, but there’s nothing quite like Heritage Bicycles General Store,” said founder Michael Salvatore. “Our bicycles are our main attraction – they’re comfortable, fashionable and affordable – but I hope people will also find the environment and culture of the store to be unmatched.”

The inaugural design from Heritage is a tribute to Chicago. “Daisy,” named after the cow famously accused of having started the Great Chicago Fire, is reminiscent of retro bicycles made stateside years ago.  Handcrafted in Chicago, the bicycle features a blend of traditional step-through and diamond frame styles and can be customized from speed to finish and saddle style.

In addition to Daisy, Heritage Bicycles General Store will feature a collection of styles from Bowery Lane Bicycles in Manhattan, a thriving handcrafted bicycle company Salvatore co-founded in 2008.

“We’re committed to producing fine, handcrafted bikes, but it was important to us to keep the environment and our community in mind as we planned for the store,” added Salvatore. “We used reclaimed wood throughout the build out for the bar and tables, selected high caliber ingredients for the café and enlisted a talented team to bring it all to life.”

A Heritage mechanic will handle assembly, tune-ups and repairs on site, with assistance from members of the West Town Cycles community.  West Town is a non profit organization designed, in part, to provide youth programs in the city of Chicago, and has been widely influential in helping to foster the city’s growing bicycling community.

Heritage Bicycles General Store is located at 2959 N. Lincoln Avenue. Beginning January 30, the store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The café will offer an assortment of hot and cold beverages, including Stumptown coffees and P&H natural sodas, as well as a selection of pastries and treats from nearby Southport Grocery.

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