Our Story
If you had asked a 6-year Mike Salvatore what he wanted to be when he grew up, the answer would not have been “I want to be the owner of a cafe that beautifully displays the intersection of biking and coffee culture and also showcases American craftsmanship.” But, luckily for all of us, somewhere along the line, a dream was born and Mike, and his wife Melissa, have worked diligently to make it a reality.
Mike spent the five years before Heritage Bicycles opened, helping to establish a bike company in New York City. As any good Chicagoan knows, though, Chicago is always home, and the draw has to be that much stronger for someone whose family has been here for 5 generations. So, Mike and Melissa, along with their new baby, Bennett, trekked back to the Midwest to open up shop. Perhaps it’s the new family feel that has helped Heritage grow into such a community-oriented space. It’s not just a bike shop, and it’s not just a coffee shop- it’s an artistic space, a working space, a space to live in. We encourage everyone to bring suggestions and feedback, to bring their kids, or their laptops, or both, and to make new friends by elbowing into the community table.
It’s not just the store, or the company, that is centered in Chicago- it’s all the bike fabrication. Every bike designed by Heritage is welded by hand out of American steel and built right here in the city of Chicago. Plus, almost every bike is entirely unique, as Heritage focuses on customizing each one to it’s owner. Whether it’s sparkly colors or Italian leather accessories that float your boat, we’ll find something to match your style.
Our Promise
Our commitment is to customer satisfaction, first and foremost, which hopefully we can achieve while being at the forefront of a move towards eco-friendly transportation and the effort to bring fabrication back to the States. We are proud to be the first totally locally-made bike since Schwinn left Chicago in the 70s. And we are excited to share that with you in a shop that feels like home, looks like your favorite memory of a city you used to visit, and smells like the best coffee you’ve ever had.
