Don Rafa’s Cyclery, 2929 16th street, has been in business since the late 90’s.
But Rafael Macias or Don Rafa, as people know him, has been working on bicycles in one form or another since he was in Mexico. When he came to the U.S. in the mid 90’s he started working in local swap meets until he finally settled.
Today, Don Rafa says he’s the only Hispanic business working on bicycles in the Mission. He added that he doesn’t preoccupy himself too much with other bicycles shops in the area like Valencia Cyclery or Freewheel because he has his own clientele that keeps coming back because of his promptitude on repairs and low prices on new and old bicycles.
A piece on Don Rafa’s Bicycle Shop, published on December 30, 2009. https://wp.me/plIM7-bdi
need a cheap bike that could be a stolo? come on down!
nice piece by the way, Im really enjoying the video/interviews lately and cheers to a new +prosperous 2010! 😉
I used to frequent don Rafa in 2003 plenty and I always thought he was not the friendliest. Maybe someday i’ll give him another shot soon if I happen to be around his block.