BUFFALO, N.Y. (BRAIN) — The owners of Tom's Pro Bike Service, which has two locations in the Buffalo area, have acquired Park Ave Bike Shop, which has two locations in the Rochester area, about an hour away.
Tom and Val Lonzi bought the Park Ave business from Andy August effective May 2. Tom's Pro Bike opened in 1997 but Lonzi had owned an earlier bike store since 1980.
The Park Ave business dates to 1978.
Chris Lonzi, the son of Tom and longtime manager of the Tom's stores, will manage the Rochester stores, which will retain the Park Ave name.
"They have a good following down there so we think it makes sense to maintain the name," Lonzi told BRAIN. He said the Buffalo-area stores serve a wide clientele but are known for their expertise in the high-end road market. The Tom's stores stock Specialized, Giant and Cervélo bikes, among other brands. The Park Ave stores also are strong in the high-end, but more so in the mountain bike market.
"We (in Buffalo) are probably 75 percent road, while they are more like 75 percent mountain bike," he said. The Park Ave stores stock Specialized and Santa Cruz, among other brands.
Park Ave has locations in Pittsford and Henrietta, New York, both suburbs of Rochester. Lonzi said the Pittsford store is fairly new but there are plans to remodel the Henrietta store this fall.
The Tom's stores are in Lansford and East Amherst, New York, both suburbs of Buffalo.
More information: tomsprobike.com | parkavebike.com.
