MARIETTA, Ga. (BRAIN) — Retailer Free-Flite Bicycles will mark its 40th anniversary serving the Atlanta metro region with a celebration and open house this Sunday, April 8, at its Marietta location.
The party is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. It will include door prizes, free pizza and snacks, and — for those 21 and older with valid ID — complimentary beer from Terrapin Beer Co. Retired ProTour racer and onetime UCI hour record holder Jens Voigt will also be on hand.
"This will be an ultimate family reunion for us," said Dan Thornton, Free-Flite Bicycles' president. "We're looking very forward to seeing countless customers, past and present employees, our former sponsored BMX, mountain and road bike team riders, and everyone who's become extended family to us over the years from sharing and advocating in the sport, lifestyle, and common love of cycling and bikes."
Thornton opened the original shop, a skateboard retail storefront, with his late father, Jeff, in 1977 in Smyrna, Georgia.
A year later the Thorntons relocated to a larger space along north Marietta's Canton Road corridor, where their flagship stores have operated in numerous brick-and-mortar iterations.
Today, Free-Flite Bicycles operates three full-service Trek-anchored shops in North Marietta, East Cobb and Sandy Springs. Third-generation general manager Daniel Thornton leads the company's day-to-day operations.
Free-Flite's accolades over its four decades include winning Trek's Elmer J. Sorenson Legends Awards as well as repeatedly being named one of America's Best Bike Shops by the National Bicycle Dealers Association.
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Dan Thornton with his son Daniel in 2018.
