Dos Gatos is a new bike repair and service shop located at 1535 Overton Park Avenue that offers good vibes and honest, quality service for the bicycling community.
The shop’s name means “two cats” in Spanish. It’s a fitting tribute to store owner and lifelong Memphian Robert Ellis’ two feline friends, Moose and Ama, though it also reflects his lifelong passion for working on and riding bikes.
At just three years old, Robert managed to remove his own training wheels and ride independently of them while his dad’s head was turned. Since then, his skills at repairing bikes only continued to grow. “It was up to us to keep our bikes rideable as kids,” he explains of riding BMX bikes with his friends, back when they did not have access to a local repair shop.
Robert maintains his no-fuss attitude at his modest storefront, where he sells refurbished bikes at affordable prices and offers friendly neighborhood services that don’t break the bank. “We wanted to have a place where everyone felt welcome, and there were no barriers to the sport,” he says.
Tune-ups, suspension services, component installation, and other standard repairs are handled by his professionally trained team, all with a community focus at the center of their work.
“Some of my favorite parts of bicycling are the camaraderie and friendship it brings. Especially with mountain biking, you can overcome those fears of big jumps and other feats that feel impossible among friends.”
In addition to his love for mountain biking at places like Mountain Bike Park, Robert also enjoys taking his road and gravel bikes around the city of Memphis and occasionally participating in evening laps with the Memphis Social Bicycle Club that rides from Midtown to Downtown.
“It’s been great to see Memphis’ cycling infrastructure improve over the years, and the cycling community has grown immensely,” he adds.
Dos Gatos celebrated its grand opening on July 9, surrounded by neighbors and friends who came out to show their support. With the shop setting its roots in Memphis, Robert looks forward to helping riders of all ages keep their bikes rolling.
Dosgatosbikeshop.com / IG: dosgatosbikeshop
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Josh Clark
