As Billy Joel's motorcycle shop 20th Century Cycles prepares to close, fans turn out to say farewell

Rick Lipson triumphantly clutched a pair of exhaust pipes in each hand as he stepped outside 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay on Saturday.

The Long Beach resident, 68, said the $10 souvenirs caught his eye and he planned to repurpose them into candleholders — mementos of his first, and possibly last, visit to Billy Joel's famed storefront, which has showcased the musician's motorcycle collection for the past 15 years.

“They’re cool items to be put on a mantel and they’re from Billy’s motorcycle shop, so that makes them special,” he said while standing alongside his wife, Fran.

In late July, the shop announced on social media it was closing and would host a “garage sale” as the “Piano Man is moving out!” Joel’s representative, Claire Mercuri, told Newsday the Hicksville native would not be renewing the lease when it expires at the end of September. Joel earlier this year announced he was canceling upcoming concerts after he was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus.

The Oyster Bay shop is open on weekends through August between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. A final closing date has not been announced.

On Saturday, dozens of customers — some motorcycle enthusiasts, others simply fans of the singer  — stopped by the storefront located on “Billy Joel Way." While the bulk of Joel’s motorcycle collection is no longer on display, patrons could peruse a variety of motorcycle parts available for purchase, including a $500 Mustang seat for a Harley-Davidson.

Vince Meehan, 69, said he rode for two hours on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra from New Jersey to visit the shop for the first time. Meehan said he and his wife are fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician and have seen him several times in concert, including at Shea Stadium for one of the “Last Play at Shea” shows in 2008.

“My heart goes out to him for his condition,” he said. “I wish him a swift recovery.”

Seth Kalmowitz, 79, of Farmingdale, arrived at the shop on his 2015 Harley Davidson Road King, joined by his friends Artie Pinto and Bill Hoffses. The trio rode their bikes from Captree State Park to Oyster Bay.

“Every once in a while, we'd come down and see if anything is new here,” Kalmowitz said of his prior visits.

He recalled how Joel’s mechanic, Alex Puls, would often be at the shop and converse with visitors — until the demand became too much.

“It became very difficult because he couldn't get any work done because everyone was talking to him,” he said.

T.J. Macek, 48, said he rode his motorcycle with a group of friends “from Springsteen territory” in New Jersey to see the shop, which he had visited about half a dozen times in the past.

“It’s one of the first places that I ever took my wife on my motorcycle,” he said.

After hearing of the sale, he said he hoped to score a memento like a sign or flag to hang in his garage. While he didn’t have luck finding those, he did walk away with some smaller items like patches.

“This was a very cool place,” he said. “If you like anything Billy Joel, it’s a great place to be.”