Heritage Bikes Opening Second Location, Heritage Littles

After successfully combining a bike shop and coffee shop 16 months ago, Heritage Bicycles General Store is at it again, this time with a new twist.

Owner Michael Salvatore and his wife Melissa O’Neal Salvatore are opening their new concept Heritage Littles and A Little Photo Studio at 2868 N. Lincoln Ave., just a stone’s throw from their café at 2959 N. Lincoln Ave.

Salvatore says he was actually looking to open on Southport Avenue before the storefront next to the iconic Muskie’s Hamburgers fell in his lap. The duo signed the papers two months ago, and construction is slated for completion in September.

“It’s just me, my wife, and a new concept called Heritage Littles and a Little Photo Studio. It’s a big place and we have big ideas for it,” Salvatore said. “We have a whole Heritage Littles line of kids bikes, so we’re going to really develop that. Bikes, accessories, European imports—everything for cycling for families.” 

As for the coffee shop atmosphere at their current store, Salvatore says Heritage Littles will have a kid-friendly twist.

“We’re actually putting in a milk and cookies bar in there,” he said with a smile. “We’ll probably have a spot for ice coffee, too.”

Outside of expanding their line of children’s bicycles—and their cookie selection—they’ll also expand Melissa’s business, A Little Photo Studio. The storefront is 4,000-square-feet split between two levels, a large building compared to the General Store’s 1,400-square-feet.

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After graduating college, Melissa traveled the world making pictures in countries like Peru, Italy, and Indonesia before settling in Manhattan, and now, Chicago.

“My wife graduated with a degree in photography and got a full-ride scholarship in photography,” Salvatore said. “She opened a full-time studio in New York and did that for five years. She’s very talented and even did all the photography for our website.”

The large storefront is open on both sides of the building, one side to Lincoln Avenue, the other to Lakewood Avenue and the South Lakeview Playground Park.