At the newly opened 8th Ave. Bike and Coffee House, any service or bicycle accessory that costs more than $10 comes with a free cup of coffee.
"I am happy so far," said Auriona East, 20, as she purchased a latte. "I like the idea of the coffee house and bicycle combo."
No other coffee shop in Gainesville also sells and repairs bicycles.
"They are the two greatest things ever," said Ryan Aulton, one of the owners of the shop. "We are totally original. We are the only one south of the Mason-Dixon Line."
The Bike and Coffee House has all the elements of a standard coffee shop. It sells Organic Sweetwater Coffee, muffins, quiches, croissants and vegan-friendly pastries. There are plenty of tables and chairs and even Wi-Fi access.
The shop specializes in refurbished vintage European bicycle frames, which hang on display throughout the store.
"It's like a bike museum. These are collectible pieces of art," said Musa Blount, co-owner and the shop's bicycle mechanic.
One thing that attracts people to the store is the possibility of winning a custom-designed Origin 8 bicycle. It will be given away in a raffle, and each ticket costs $6.
The owners said the bicycles they sell are unlike those sold at other shops. According to Aulton, most of the bicycles are made of steel, which is more comfortable than aluminum and less expensive than carbon fiber.
Prices for one of these refurbished vintage road bicycles range from $200 to $2,000.
"Each colorful bike being sold at the shop is unique," Aulton said. "These are bikes with personality."
According to Aulton, the best part of the whole deal is the fact that the bicycles come completely refurbished, which means new tires and tubes, replaced brake and shift cables and a cleaned, tear-free saddle.
The shop sells a limited style of bikes but will repair any kind of bicycle.
The shop is also hoping to host an event every month. A ride to St. Augustine is planned for the first weekend in October.
The 8th Ave. Bike and Coffee House is located at 235 NW 8th Ave. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m on Sunday.
