IN THE BIZ WITH CARVELLE BIKES

By John Hayden

Wilton Manors’ newest bike shop, Carvelle Bikes, is the brainchild of Carvelle Estriplet, who opened the shop at 2917 NE 6th Ave. in Wilton Manors.

“I am feeling overwhelmed. The last month has been a rollercoaster,” she told SFGN.

I visited the space a month before the opening, when it was undergoing renovations and wasn’t sure if she’d be open by mid-October. But she persevered and on Oct. 17 she held a grand opening party attended by local bike enthusiasts and Wilton Manors VIPs.

“Now I feel a sense of relief. Everyone came out. It’s a new shop, a new beginning. Ready to serve the community.”

Electric Avenue

Carvelle Bikes is the only bike shop in Wilton Manors and is full service. In addition to selling traditional bikes, the shop is ahead of the curve on getting people fitted with electric bikes. Her goal is to turn Sixth Avenue into Electric Avenue.

“When it comes to bikes, I am super fired up.”

Electric bikes pair with your phone or watch, go up to 35 mph, are easy to recharge and are the future of urban biking. If you’ve never ridden one, she’ll get you set up and on the road. Carvelle Bikes will also be there for service on any kind of bike.

“Service is always going to be there. I’m always going to be servicing bikes. Repairs are tune-ups and more. I’m still going to be providing whatever you need from flat tires to gears, whatever it is.”

Her original shop was at the back of Wilton Collective. But it was small and her business was growing. The new space is 10 times the size she used to have.

“I have an alley behind [the shop]. The new alley is the size of the old place.”

With major residential development across the street and sharing a strip mall with restaurants and a wine bar, Estriplet said she’s poised for success.

“This is the hot spot right here.”

Community Leader

Estriplet has long been an advocate for LGBT rights, and as a trans woman herself she serves on boards and advisory panels and leads by example. Naturally she is a big participant in the SMART Ride, an annual bike ride from Miami to Key West that raises money for HIV/ AIDS services.

Now the community can come to her. The space inside Carvelle Bikes is flexible, which means she can hold events and meetings. “The Dolphin Democrats, WMBA events, anything civic, political, or business. It’s going to be a microvenue right on Electric Avenue.”

March 2, 2023 • Volume 10 • Issue 5 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

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Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor •John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Correspondents

Sal Torre • James Oaksun • John McDonald

Staff Photographers J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires Sales & Marketing

For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

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Co-founders• Norm Kent & Piero Guidugli

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping

To learn more about Carvelle Bikes, visit CarvelleBikes.com.

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