AUSTINTOWN -- A combination of a love of motorcycles and wanting to be his own boss set the wheels

AUSTINTOWN -- A combination of a love of motorcycles and wanting to be his own boss set the wheels into motion for the course of John Roman's life.
In 1948, after serving in the Air Force during World War II, Roman and a partner opened British Cycle Sales on Oak Hill Avenue in Youngstown. Two years later, he bought a home and property on Market Street, where he converted the front porch on the home into the storefront for what became Johnny's Cycle Shop.
Eventually, Roman and his wife, Babe, formed a partnership and opened Roman's Cycle Shop, a business that stayed at the same Market Street location 49 years.
For several decades, the Romans successfully ran their business at what was a busy spot for selling numerous brands of motorcycles, including Triumph, one of John Roman's favorites.
"Market Street was the main road to downtown and was the ideal location to go into business because of the amount of traffic," explained Richard Roman, the Romans' son and general manager.
Starting young
Richard Roman also spent his early years surrounded by motorcycles. At age 10, he began working for his father by cleaning floors and performing other errands. "I never worked anywhere except for my dad," Richard Roman said.
Shortly after meeting Richard Roman in high school, Denise Roman found herself doing part-time bookkeeping work for his mother at the shop. After she and Richard married, they ran J.R. Cycle Shop, a second Market Street store John Roman opened near Dewey Avenue in the early 1970s.
About eight years later, he closed that store and expanded the original business by acquiring property next door to it before retiring.
Afterward, Richard and Denise Roman took over.
Richard Roman and his seven employees specialize in selling BMW motorcycles and other products, as well as snowplows during the winter.
The business also services and sells parts for most motorcycle brands and does restoration work on them during most of the winter, Richard Roman said.
John and Babe Roman still run errands and assist at Roman Cycle Shop's Austintown store, where Richard and Denise Roman moved in April 1998.
More space, parking and convenience made the Romans decide to make the move, Richard Roman added.
In March 2002, Richard Roman created a motorcycle museum in a backroom of his business in honor of his father's 90th birthday. The museum features a collection of vintage motorcycles, original metal signs and other memorabilia from the 1950s, '60s and '70s.