Last week award winning entertainer Billy Joel announced that due to his current medical issues, he would be closing his Long Island motorcycle shop.
Also due to the medical situation, he will auctioning off his personal collection of motorcycles.
After a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus – a brain disorder that affects vision, hearing, and balance – Joel cancelled the remainder of his tour.
“20th Century Cycles” in Oyster Bay is set to close some time in September with the auction later in the year.
Joel opened the store in 2010 as a way to maintain, customize, and repair his own personal collection of motorcycles. Dating back as far as the ‘40’s, Joel’s collection of over 75 cycles include Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Indians and BMWs.
A motorcycle enthusiast for over 40 years, Joel has ridden the bikes for charitable events over the years.
Speaking on the shop back in 2013 Joel said, “it’s basically promoting an aesthetic here. I like older style. I like the automotive style from the ‘30s to the ’60s. I wanted to collect a whole bunch of those kinds of bikes, put ’em in one place and let people see what that era of bike looked like. Because it’s starting to be a lost aesthetic.”
He added, “I’ve been living in this community for a long time. I actually grew up not far from here. And I’d like to get a little interest going into the town and the village.”
The street where the shop is located was rename Billy Joel Way back in 2023.