These are all on Long Island, correct?

I've been thinking and doing some research and things and I kinda think I might wanna make a go of it some place that's not NJ. I'm kinda thinking about the Burlingon VT area, or the Stowe VT area. There's colleges, college kids, families and I really like the idea of offering a workspace that could be rented out by the hour to DIY'ers. I don't have a lot of desire to become a dealer for new bikes, but if that's something shops need to do in order to make money I am open to it. I do like the idea of becoming an assembly point for Internet bike dealers though. That could be a good way to supplement foot traffic.

One good thing about losing my lease and living with my parents for the last number of weeks is that I now posses some pretty decent working capital. Also I kind of come from a family of small business owners, so I've got the right folks to help the business concern part of things along.

I'm gonna start lining up shops to see between Northern NJ and Stowe VT and take a few days next month to go and see as many as I can.

The owner of Old Spokes Home in Burlington, VT, is a friend.

http://oldspokeshome.com/

It's an amazing shop/museum, and it's really deeply part of a close-knit community up there.

Neal

Old Spokes is like the only place I thought of when I thought of shops in Burlington. They are cool. I'm planning to stop by there.

Well, to the first point, well, I don't mean to by coy; but yes, I do want to avoid trashing the guy publicly or privately. Nor is Jim being coy when he calls this neighborhood "hoodish." The New York Times likes the adjective "gritty" for the same neighborhood. I call it a slum, and people who don't know it think I'm being something or other when I say that; and of course I am, but it's not coy or self-deprecating. It is a strange place, where you can buy a house on a quarter acre of land, within walking distance of one of the most beautiful public ocean beaches on the east coast, for a five-digit price tag. We have almost no seasonal beachgoer traffic. This is a real neighborhood, densely populated with people, a lot of whom are unemployed or underemployed. Paul caters to a population that stands out for a high rate of smoking, a lower than average tooth count, a higher than average tattoo count, and (not coincidentally) a high reliance on bicycles as transportation. The bike shop on Montauk Highway is almost five miles away. The one in Center Moriches is seven or eight. I believe Paul owns the building that houses his shop, and several of the neighboring buildings as well; by local standards he is a rich man. He provides legal and wholesome services that the neighborhood needs.

To your second point, ummm... hold on, I'm working on it... gimme second... oh, never mind. I'm stumped.:p

I seen Patrick's bikes....they don't look like they came from the Sussex County Junk Yard! :lol:

No, indeed they don't. Mine do, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

There's a great documentary about one of your LI neighbors who drives demo derbies: http://www.pbs.org/pov/speedo/trailer.php

I usually find them in deplorable condition, but yes, then I overspend to make them suit my riding preferences.

No, yours have glorious patina - and style.

Stay in NJ! I need somewhere to hang out.

But yeah, I think opening a bike business in this area would be tough. Just not enough cyclists. You'd have to somehow build a cycling community simultaneously, which is something I dream about, too.

I really do like NJ but they cost of living is insanely lower in Upstate NY or VT...or really anywhere that isnt Here.

Labor rates are about the same up there as they are here from what I can tell. Rents are like half.

btw, thanks to the mods for letting this thread stay here even though its fairly off topic. I don't really post anywhere else on this site and I wouldn't know where to ask something like this anyway.

I really appreciate all the feedback!

Real estate is cheaper where I am by a significant percent compared to even 10 miles east, and it gets even less expensive as you go west. But of course, that's because there are fewer jobs and fewer people, not a great base for building a new business. I'm guessing that shop I told you about would be fairly inexpensive (relative to eastern NJ) to maintain, but then I'm not sure how that guy has stayed in business all these years. There isn't much money in the area and the population is sparse. Probably a situation where he is free of a mortgage and owns the real estate and is doing what he knows how to do to keep him busy.

Hey ZB - We need to grab a beer and chat about this - I've been throwing an extremely similar idea around for the last year and come to the realization that it won't work out for me at this point in my life. Hopefully you can take the information and run with it.

Keep in mind that if your in an area with cold weather the 'season' is 5 months long then you have 7 months of nothing.

rhm, if you dont mind me asking where do you live? The house my fiancee and I own* is in Crystal Beach just around the corner from the diner on the corner of James Hawkins and Montauk Highway.

Jim, it sounds like you're about five miles from my 'beach house' which is less than a mile from the bike shop in the photo I posted. We're south of there; 0.5 miles from the bay, 0.9 miles from a nice place to launch a canoe or kayak, 2.5 miles via bicycle to the Atlantic Ocean beach.

I vaguely know the area!!! I'm not sure how much longer we'll be neighbors, we've been trying to sell the house for 7 months and its not looking like it'll sell anytime soon. Google 'Crystal Beach Blvd'

I'll give ya 150k and a Schwinn Varsity. Think about it....its got decent tires.