Web-Based Motorbike Accessory Shop Opens Store In Derby

Photo by Bill Bittar

Shaquanna Jones holds a motorcycle helmet while standing in front of her new store, Brickhouse Motorcycle Gear, at 129 Main St.

DERBY — Main Street Derby isn’t an easy place to do business, as evidenced by the bars, restaurants, and even a pool hall that have opened and closed in the last decade.

And there’s a multi-million road widening project looming that will eventually turn the state road into a major construction zone.

But that is not deterring Shaquanna Jones, the optimistic owner of Brickhouse Motorcycle Gear, an online business that just added a storefront at 129 Main St.

That will bring more traffic,” Jones said. More people will be driving through and they will see us.”

Brickhouse sells bike chains and patches, protective jackets, black leather vests for men and women, leather chaps, Harley-Davidson T‑shirts and sweatshirts, shades and ratchet tie-downs to secure a bike to a trailer.

Jones said her store will soon offer tires and parts, as well. Whatever Brickhouse does not have, Jones said she can order and sell for a low price.

The fact Jones built her business on the Internet could give Brickhouse an advantage. She chose to open on Main Street (state Route 34) because it is heavily traveled by motorcycle riders.

She was constantly getting questions from customers.

Every time somebody called me, they said, Do you have a location?’ and I thought, oh my God, I need to get a store,’” she recalled.

Jones isn’t coming in blind. She knows Derby. She lives here.

She noted she’s about a mile away from The Dew Drop Inn, a wildly popular Derby bar that is a destination for bikers on weekend jaunts.

Tons are of motorcycles are already passing the business each day.

The store opened May 4. 

Comfort is obviously important when choosing items such as helmets. A store gives you a place to try on the merchandise.

Currently the store is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. As business picks up, Jones said she will expand her hours.

Monitor the store’s Facebook page for changes.

Brickhouse Motorcycle Gear has Aria, Bell and Icon helmets with designs such as skulls and replicas of Harley-Davidson helmets. 

There are also children’s helmets. Among those on display is a Spiderman themed helmet.

It’s neat if your kid has a dirt bike,” Jones said, and it’s got gloves and goggles. I think it’s so cute and it comes in different colors for girls and boys.”

Among the helmet accessories are a mohawk, facemasks and colorful ponytails that can stick out of the sides. 

You can braid it, but you can’t curl it,” Jones said of the ponytails.

Jewelry includes motorcycle rings and there are stickers for bikes and helmets ranging from unicorns to superheroes.

Jones, who grew up in Bridgeport, used to ride in back of her husband Carlos’ bike before buying her own bike 10 years ago, a Suzuki 750.

I wanted to get my own bike, because I saw a lot of women riding,” Jones recalled. When it’s a nice day, you just want the wind in your hair and the sun shining on you, but you’ve got to have protective gear. I’m all for safety. You see a lot of people having accidents and I feel everyone should have a helmet, gloves and protective gear.”

Jones said riders without helmets can suffer brain injuries in crashes and those without gloves and protective clothing can get road rash. She said she has seen people get hurt and even lose their lives in bad accidents.

Even if you’re going 25 miles per hour, you can get hurt,” Jones said. If you don’t have protective gear, your skin can come off and you can have a really bad injury.”

Jones said she rides a cruiser now, rather than a sports bike, on which riders are tempted to go fast. Her bike is a Suzuki Boulevard. 

We can take in the scenery,” she said.

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