By Krystle J Bailey
“I just keep doing, keep going. I believe that you get back what you put out,” shares James Bussey, owner of Freedom City Bike Club.
James, who has owned and operated the bike shop for the last seven years, has seen his share of hard times and firmly believes in the power that a community can cultivate when they take care of one another. This is why whether business is booming like it was during quarantine or as slow as the days he couldn’t keep the lights on, James continues to show up with giving hands and a heart of service.
What began in a small spare bedroom in Mays Landing has grown through faith, consistency, and perseverance. Freedom City Bike Club now has two locations in Pleasantville and Atlantic City.
Growing up, James recalls the neighborhood kids coming to his backyard where he and his father would serve as the neighborhood bike mechanics. As an adult, after working in the restaurant industry for many years, James went back to his roots and love of bikes. His father, who owns a shop in North Jersey, helped him get started with a couple of bikes that James was able to sell on eBay. One thing led to another, and slowly a business began to blossom. With the mentorship and support of Tuckahoe Bike Shop, his sister and her husband Meredith and Patrick Wysienski, and James’ long-time friend LaHaam Lee, Freedom City Bike Shop began to grow its wings.
Soon, he outgrew the spare bedroom and relocated to a small store on Harding Highway in Mays Landing, where he sold bikes, antiques, and collectibles. There was nothing over-the-top about what he was doing at the time, but it gave him a hub where people could meet up to purchase bikes and other items.
Times were tough for James financially, but he stood on his faith and continued to show up for this small growing business that he believed in. He would buy two bikes, locate some parts, and build four bikes, then rinse and repeat as many times as necessary to keep moving forward. To this day, while they are able to offer new bikes now, many of the bikes at Freedom City are recycled and refurbished using collected parts.
After a car plowed through the Mays Landing store, James was forced to relocate again. This time, he landed a corner spot on Delilah Road in Pleasantville. With a few bikes and some baskets, James held an under-the-radar grand opening. Word began to spread about Freedom City Bike Club. Neighborhood kids would stumble upon the new corner shop and ask about the bikes. The groups of kids, their parents, and other Pleasantville locals began to grow, and James attributes much of the store’s growth to the love and support of the surrounding community.
“Most of them didn’t have money,” explains Bussey. “So we would work out community service chores with them. They’d pick up trash or rake leaves in exchange for a bike or repairs.”
The big break came during Covid when everyone was searching for a bicycle, and they were hard to come by. With so much demand, James was forced to close the store on numerous occasions to catch up on inventory. Other bike mechanics were called in to lend hands and help meet the customer’s needs.
This year, James and his staff took a leap of faith and opened a second location at Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City. As the Pleasantville shop continued to gain recognition, there was a demand for a shop closer to Brigantine and Atlantic City. Again, leaning on faith, James jumped. He made the call to Tanger and, in March of 2022, opened their storefront at The Walk.
Now with a full-time staff and two fully-operating locations, Freedom City Bike Club continues to remain a place known for serving the community. Last week, 55 bikes were given away to children and families in need. While James had every intention of giving back this season as he has done in years past, the sequence of events that led to this giveaway surpassed expectations.
“We had received a phone call from a client who wanted to purchase 55 bikes for charity,” explains James. “The deal was done, and on the day of, they changed their mind. We just believe in moving forward. I made the decision to give them away anyway and just be a blessing to others.”
Toddler, youth, and young adult bikes found new homes across Atlantic County. There were no criteria to meet or hoops to jump through. James handed each bike over on a first come, first serve basis in exchange for a smile and a hug.
“What means most to us is giving back, even on the years we don’t make a profit. If it weren’t for this community, these kids, this area, we wouldn’t be here,” explains Bussey. “We’re here to be in business, of course, but we love to be a blessing. There’s just so many people in need.”
James and the team are still climbing their mountain. Opening two locations and hiring new staff has been a financial pinch, but it’s about more than money for James. It’s more than a brand name or a location on The Walk. For James and his family-led business, it’s about service, love, faith, and community.
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, James is no stranger to the family business. His four children, ages 16, 12, 11, and 9, all help to run the stores from putting the bikes out each day to counting the register each night. They love to be a part of the grassroots shop that their dad poured blood, sweat, and tears into bringing to life and look forward to taking over the business one day.
“We’ve come a long way from that corner room, but there’s still more to do. I went from washing bikes just so I could eat to having a fully paid staff,” expresses James. “I’m thankful for every dollar. I wake up every morning, the employees show up with a smile, the lights are still on, and I am thankful.”
Check out Freedom City Bike Club at two locations:
29 W Delilah Rd
Pleasantville, NJ
12 N Arkansas Ave
Atlantic City, NJ
Tanger Outlets
Visit freedomcitybikeclub.com to see what is available on eBay and Etsy.
Follow @Freedom_City_Bike_Club on Instagram and Freedom City Bike Club on Facebook.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
