Oh boy, a super cool shop just opened up on Hertel. Owners Chris and Jodi Drew have done a bang up job on their dream store, Spoke & Dagger. After ogling their window the other night, I made a point to stop in yesterday. I was lucky to catch Chris and Jodi behind the counter, upon which time I professed my love for their business. The theme of the store is oriented around motorcycle culture, but you don’t have to be a gearhead to appreciate the goodies.
Now let’s play catchup for a minute. Chris and Jodi both share an affinity for bikes – they both ride (their own motorcycles). Chris has a background in motor mechanics and spent most of his time working on Harleys. Jodi is a graphic designer and owns her own company called Anchored by Design. Not only does the couple ride, they also eat up the culture. The only problem was, until now, there was no central place in Buffalo where people could come together to share their love of motorcycles and the lifestyle. “Friends would always ask us about the bikes, and our clothing,” said Jodi. “Most of what we were wearing was made on the West Coast and in Europe. There was no place to get these items around here. And if you ordered online, chances are the sizing was wrong, or the materials were different than you expected. We felt that if we could open our own shop, we could create a place that would show off all of the things that we were already promoting just by riding.”
Spoke & Dagger is action packed to say the least. In the back, by the sales bar (yeah, it looks like a bar and even has custom stools and shelves made by Nickel City Metal Works) a projector plays movies centered around bike themes – custom builds, road trips, documentaries, etc. The movies set the mood for everything else to come. Like the impressive Devil Chicken artwork by Chris Galley featuring skeletons riding choppers. Then there’s the clothing lines by Brixton and Iron & Resin, followed by highly coveted bike parts made by Lowbrow Customs, Throttle Addiction and Biltwell. The sick custom bike in the front window (try not to drool) was made by a local bike builder by the name of Christian Newman (for The Greasy Dozen).
The 63 Panhead is owned by Jeremy Mazgaj, and yes, it’s for sale. The shop’s branded apparel is supplied by Buffalo’s very own Positive Approach (located on the West Side). All of the reclaimed wood materials were sourced from ReUse Action. To top is off, custom sign painter and muralist, Andy Sharp, painted the sign for the business. Chris and Jodi have done a bang up job at sourcing as locally as they could, when putting the store together – a theme that we’re seeing more and more of. “Buffalo is a huge DIY city,” said Chris. “We support that at Spoke & Dagger.”
Chris and Jodi told me that their goal was to build a community – a community where a new generation of riders would feel welcome, along with veteran riders who never thought that they would see the day that this sort of bike comradeship would be fashionable again. They want riders to share their interests, their passions, and their stories. In the spring, they want to host group rides. They also want to have bike building and tech classes, and movie nights. Their hope is that Spoke & Dagger becomes a place where people gather to talk shop, and shop for hard to find lines of clothing, gear and accessories. Some of the merchandise found in the shop includes canteens, gloves, Bell helmets, candles, sunglasses, magazines, and a great line of men’s and ladies boots called Red Wing. Chris and Jodi carry the more ‘fashionable side’ of the renowned work boots, which are not only American made, they also get better with age, according to Chris. The boots are as fashion forward as they are durable.
It is interesting to note that bike culture is making a comeback in Buffalo. A popular custom motorcycle builders’ event has been gaining some serious traction in Buffalo. It’s called Voodoo & Burnt Rubber. The success of this gathering alone has made Buffalo a destination for motorcycle fans. Now Chris and Jodi are planting a permanent flag in the ground, right in North Buffalo. “Bike culture is not just for guys anymore,” mentioned Jodi. “There is a growing number of girl riders out there, and this shop caters to them, as well as the guys.”
Remember, Spoke & Dagger is not just for riders. There’s plenty to browse, even if you don’t own a bike. Plus, Chris and Jodi will treat you to a free cup of coffee in the winter, and a bottle of water in the summer. You can even purchase a bag of whole bean Sail Away coffee, or a bottle of cold brew. From there, grab a seat on the couch, kick your feet up, and shoot the shit with a couple of cool cats who are doing their best to promote bike culture in Buffalo.