Little Havana’s Suarez Bike Shop suffers fire
Suarez Bike Shop, a bicycle store in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood is closed for repairs after it suffered a fire shortly after closing on July 17.
Josue Suarez, the owner’s son, told 7 News Miami that the fire started when eBike batteries exploded while being cleaned by a staff member. There were about 20 bikes awaiting repair in the shop at the time of the fire.
Suarez Bike Shop, which is located on Flagler Street and Southwest Ninth Avenue, has established a GoFundMe to help recover from the fire. As of publication, the GoFundMe has raised a little over $2,000 from 34 donations. It has a $50.000 goal.
“My father, the owner, needs your help to get back on his feet,” Suarez posted on the GoFundMe page. “All donations will go towards rebuilding the bicycle shop. Thank you and God bless you.”
No one was injured in the fire, but 7 News did report that the shop cat didn’t make it, but she did have a litter of kittens that was born just before the fire.
The shop has been in business since 1987. Little Havana is famous as the cultural and political capital of Cuban Americans, and the neighborhood is a center of the Cuban exile community