95-year-old Sandgate shop Hoffy Cycles up for sale

One of Brisbane’s most legendary bike shops, founded 95 years ago in the weatherboard building where it still stands, is up for sale.

Hoffy Cycles, then and now. The business is up for sale.

What could well be Australia’s oldest bike shop is up for sale after only the fourth person to run it decided it is time to retire.

Marie Nobbs has run Hoffy Cycles in Sandgate, founded in 1928, for the past 12 years since her partner Les Bews passed away.

A legend among cyclists and long regarded as one of the best bike shops in Brisbane, originally Hoffys built custom-made bikes from handpainted metal tubes, designed specifically for each customer.

Ms Nobbs said that aficionados regarded them as among the most comfortable bikes ever made and the bicycles were now collectors’ items.

Remarkably, the business still operates from the same weatherboard building on Bowser Pde where it began 95 years ago.

The Hoffy Cycles store has been in the same location in Sandgate for nearly a century.

Back in the day most of Sandgate got their bikes from Hoffys.

In that time only two other people have run the shop — founder Bill Hoffman (hence its name) and second owner Eric Hendren, who built up a reputation for supplying and servicing top-quality road bikes.

Mr Bews bought the business off him about 27 years ago because he loved riding, even though he wasn’t a professional.

Hoffys originally sold custom-made bikes, which are still sought after by collectors.

Hoffys is up for sale.

Remarkably, Ms Nobbs said she didn’t ride until her partner bought the shop.

“But I began to love riding, the shop and the customers,’’ she said.

“I made a lot of what I call shop friends over the years doing Queensland bike rides and other events.

“It (selling) was a hard decision to make, but at the moment it’s just me and there’s no mechanic so we can’t do any servicing.’’

The business is being marketed by local agent Jacqui McKeering from Jim McKeering Real Estate.