By Sarah Whitman
Senior Staff Writer
The music and the motorcycles may get rowdy, but bike night on Main Street Zephyrhills is a family thing.
“The Zephyrhills show is great because everybody in the community comes out and the atmosphere is very family oriented,” said Thomas Giella Jr., owner of Giella Customs in Dade City. “We don’t do any bike shows you can’t bring your kid too.”
Giella and his mom, Brenda, will have a tent at the Music & Motorcycles event April 10. The event features lives music, food, vendors and a bike show from 4 to 9 p.m. Giella Customs sells and installs motorcycle lights, so they bring in the best of their merchandise to display. Brenda also sells handbags, hats and other accessories.
“It’s a great show,” Brenda said. “The people are fantastic. It’s been great for my son’s business.”
Giella, a proud Kawasaki owner, started his business in 2008 with just $200 in his pocket and a dream. He runs the operation out of his home garage. His parents helped him grow the company and he now has steady business.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Giella.
His father, Thomas Sr., and Brenda support the entrepreneur.
“We are really proud of our son,” Brenda said. “He is such a hard worker. We always told him to find something he was passionate about. He did and he’s been doing great.”
Brenda Welcher, Executive Director of Main Street Zephyrhills, is thrilled the Giellas will have a booth at this month’s event.
“They’re one of our regular vendors,” Welcher said. “It’s great because we have such a wide variety of vendors, so there is something for everybody. We have motorcycle merchandise, but we also have jewelry and other items.”
Motorcycles of all makes and models will line Main Street for the event, from custom bikes, to antiques and imports. The bikes will be judged and winners will receive custom made trophies. The classic rock group Southband will perform.
Mike Savage, publisher of “Go For a Ride” magazine, said Music & Motorcycles is one of his favorite events. He likes to ride his Harley Davidson to the show.
“The atmosphere they’ve created is very family friendly and there are a lot of things for bikers to do,” Savage said. “I don’t have kids myself but it’s great that they are welcome at the event because that’s how a lot of people got interested in motorcycles, because their parents brought them to bike shows.”
For Giella, it’s the other way around. He’s gotten his parents more interested in motorcycles.
“My husband will go out and ride my son’s,” Brenda said. “Bikers have had a bad rap in the past, but the group at the Zephyrhills show are really the best people you’d ever want to meet.”
Savage agrees.
“Families can come to the show and not feel threatened by anybody,” he said. “For bikers it’s a good event to ride into from another area. They can just ride in and enjoy the countryside.”
Giella said he looks forward to letting bikers from surrounding areas know about his business.
“We’ll be doing demonstrations and showing people how all you need to install good lighting is one or two tools,” he said.
Giella Customs carries LED lighting and lighting kits for Harley Davidson, Victory, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, and Yamaha. The company offers more than 80 products, name brand and Giella Customs brand, and low cost installations. They serve customers in person and online at www.giellacustoms.com.
Giella prides himself on offering quality products and services. When customers stop by his tent at Music & Motorcycles, he is proud to introduce them to his mom, a woman he credits with making his dreams a reality.
“I really couldn’t have done it without my parents,” he said.
For information, visit www.mainstreetzephyrhills.com. Admission to Music & Motorcycles is free.
