House of Custom Cycles features ‘impeccable’ bikes
A former fire station on East Trent has been reborn as the House of Custom Cycles.
Owner Don Bailey opened the shop two weeks ago and sells used motorcycles he’s collected from all over the country. He sells Harley Davidson, Titan, Big Dog and American Iron cycles.
“The bikes I buy are impeccable,” Bailey said. “They’re nicer than new. I won’t even buy a bike if it has any rock chips in it. I’m very meticulous with my stuff.”
Bailey said he selected his location at 8007 E. Trent Ave. because of its proximity to the Harley Davidson dealership just down the road. “I’m seven blocks from my best competitor,” he said. “I wanted to be right next to the heat.”
His shop carries between 18 and 20 cycles that have low mileage. “That’s what we usually have in stock, and we have more coming every day,” he said. The idea seems to be taking off. Despite not having done much advertising yet, Bailey said he sold four bikes in his first week of business.
This is Bailey’s first foray into the world of cycles. He previously owned a trucking company before retiring last year. “Fishing got old,” he said. “A guy can only do so much golf and fishing.”
But he always liked being around motorcycles and noticed a lack of used motorcycle dealers. Now he has his own shop with one employee. “I’m the boss hog, and I’m also the janitor,” he said. “I just learned how to mop floors yesterday.”
Bailey also offers financing. The House of Custom Cycles is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
New apartment complex going in
A 108-unit apartment complex is slated to be built at Seventh Avenue and Woodruff Road.
“It’s a nice location, and it’s a short walk to University City shopping center,” said Grant Person, a Tomlinson Black commercial property agent and minor partner in Rudeen Development, LLC.
Rudeen Development obtained the property through a trade-purchase agreement with WAM Enterprises Inc. and plans to construct multiple apartment buildings and a community center that boasts workout facilities.
Person said permits have been obtained and building should get underway within 90 days. He believes some buildings will be complete, with units available, by fall. The company plans to leave some large ponderosa pine trees standing and weave buildings throughout a treed, hilly area that has a view to the north.
“It will be a very nice project,” Person said. “It will be architecturally appealing, not just a bunch of boxes sitting on the ground.”
Individual apartments will have one and three bedrooms and likely rent for $500 to $750, Person said.