Family Business Closes After 70 Years In West Newton

NEWTON, MA — For some seven decades, the Harris Family have run a store in West Newton Square, even after a fire destroyed the shop in the 1980s, it kept cycling onward: Harris Cyclery.

The family helped countless Newton families pick out and tune up bikes, hosted bike programs and helped bike aficionados get their fix throughout the years.

No more.

The family has decided to close their doors permanently, hit hard by pandemic supply issues. Their last day was Sunday.

"Harris Cyclery of West Newton, Mass., have come to the moment of saying good-bye," the owners wrote in a goodbye note posted to the door. "We do so with some sadness, but we do also without regrets."

During its tenure the Harris family sponsored school rider safety programs, police bicycles, raffles and other community contributions and engagements, much by word of mouth.

"We did feel that our reputation for value and integrity was part of the universe of cycling in Boston’s western suburbs and beyond," they said. "For these successes we thank our many, many clients for their trust and support."

The West Newton shop has served families, from generation to generation, since 1952 when Aaron "Sonny" Harris opened in the space. He and his son Jon sold everything from kid's bikes to comfort bikes to high-end road bikes. And commuters relied on the shop's service department to keep them on the road. In 1995, they began an online store. Those, too, will stop, they said.

"It’s hard to say farewell, there are so many memories for us all," they said. "But we say keep riding, keep safe. Good bye."

The Newton shop's website also hosted SheldonBrown.com, a site that offers articles about bicycles, maintenance, restoration, and riding by Sheldon Brown and others. Though Sheldon died in 2008, his site continues John Allen and Harriet Fell have taken over much of that responsibility.

It got its start when Sheldon worked at Harris Cyclery, and Harris Cyclery sheldonbrown.com will still continue, according to Allen and Fell, through online advertising.

"We don't know yet what other affiliation we may find, or whether we'll go it alone, but you may rest easy," they said in a statement. "Ride your bike, and feel free to come to us for help keeping it in top shape."