Joe Holland was 19 when he opened the Denton Bicycle Center in 1971, and like most first-time business owners, he made plenty of innocent rookie mistakes. For instance, he often jokes that while he knew he had to charge sales tax on each purchase, he had no clue what to do with that money once he had it—that is, until a stern man from the tax office showed up one day to set him straight.

 

It was a lesson learned and a mistake he never repeated. That said, what Joe didn’t know about running a business, he made up for by offering the best bicycles in town. Fast forward 56 years, and that small shop is one of Denton’s most enduring local businesses.

 

“In the early 1970s, bicycles were seen as the answer for long gas lines and a great idea for fun and exercise. As a result, people from every slice of life were riding them. It was astounding,” Joe said with a laugh. “In fact, the problem was never selling them; it was how quickly we could get them into the customers’ hands. I had boxes upon boxes of bicycles to put together.”

 

A long-time Forrestridge resident who also proudly served as Denton County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 1 for 16 years, Joe admits the bicycle industry is much different today. After all, anyone looking to buy a bicycle has countless options, from big-box retailers and online marketplaces to direct-to-consumer brands that can ship a bicycle to someone’s doorstep with a few clicks. And yet, people keep going back to the independent bicycle shop around the corner because of its five-decade reputation of high-quality service and the best in everything bicycle-related. The friendly, knowledgeable staff—now led by Joe’s son, Joe Holland III—at Denton Bicycle Center can be relied on for literally any bicycle need, whether you’re buying a starter bike for your child, upgrading to something with a little more oomph for your next competitive ride, or in need of a reliable bicycle to get you from Point A to Point B simply.  

 

Denton Bicycle Center is also your go-to professionals for repairs, trades, tune-ups, clinics, and advice from people who know bicycles inside and out. As a result, customers who did business with them in the 1970s are now sending their grandchildren.

 

“We’ve always had really good tools, and we pride ourselves on attending seminars and conventions to stay on top of the latest trends,” Joe said. “After all, the last thing we want is not to be able to solve a problem for someone who visits us.”

 

Joe always had a heart for service and putting in an honest day’s work. Before opening Denton Bicycle Center, he was your everyday student at UNT looking for his next big opportunity. He started by working for the Texas Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator, and while he was very good at it and even won a one-year safe-driving award, he didn’t see the job as a long-term career.

 

That’s when he came up with the idea for a bicycle shop. All he needed was the right location. He purchased what was an old house that had been converted into a Simca auto dealership and later a store that rented trucks, floor polishers, and tools. In 1979, he bought a mom-and-pop Dairy Queen location that was next door and built a new building that they still occupy today.

 

The new building was proof that Denton Bicycle Center would be a long-term contributor to Denton's business landscape.

 

“That was one of the best decisions I could have made, and it has really helped us over the years,” Joe said. “That said, I certainly don’t think about the store being around for as long as it has. It has never seemed that old to me—but here we are, and we’re still doing well.”

 

For more information on the Denton Bicycle Center, please visit www.dentonbicycle.com. Or better yet, stop in for a visit.