The Shop in Winsted Finds New Home

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

The sign for The Shop in Winsted only went up by the roadside about two weeks ago, but Keith Bruno has been working since August to transform the building at 920 Main Street into a suitable facility for his three-year-old motorcycle service and repair business. It’s the third location for The Shop, which Bruno launched as a one-bay operation at 760 Main Street, closer to downtown in 2009. It later moved to 714 Main Street, but lost its lease last summer when a new owner bought the building.

“I was going to move to South Carolina,” Bruno recalled Saturday after giving a visitor a tour of The Shop. What changed his mind was urging by local politicos to stay in town.  Were it not for the two motorcycle lifts, the many signs and pictures on the walls for motorcycle manufacturers and motorcycle parts suppliers, and the dozens of motorcycle models lining the shelves in the front window, it would be easy to mistake The Shop for a country store.

Unlike many motorcycle shops, The Shop is immaculate and tastefully decorated. There are no oil drippings on the floor and every tool is in its proper place.  Bruno has spent nearly $25,000 modifying the place. “I’ve tried to make it as appealing as I could. I think it fits with the large beams. It’s comfortable where we live,” he said.

Behind the motorcycles lifts are areas for separate the storage of parts, tire changing and bead-blasting. Adjacent to the front counter is a lounge with comfy sofa. Bruno’s planning to add a machine shop with a Bridgeport milling machine and as well as a room devoted to a dyno. To add the dyno, he needs to remove a ceiling and install ductwork for exhaust fumes. “Hopefully, next month,” he said.

The Shop has been keeping a low profile since its latest move. “I’m not fully open yet because I’m waiting for approval from the town,” said Bruno.

While The Shop specializes in working on motorcycles with V-twin motors, Bruno said anyone who rides, including scooter operators, are welcome. He’s planning a grand opening party on April 28 with two bands, barbecue and tattoo and pin-stripping artists.

The Shop is next door to the Red Rooster Saloon and Bruno said he will encourage riders who imbibe too much to park their bikes behind The Shop or in the parking lot, get a lift home and retrieve their bikes later. They will be safely stored as he lives in an apartment above the business and there are surveillance cameras 24 hours a day.

 

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Since 2010, RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland has been reporting about motorcycling in New England and portions of New York.