NASHUA – So young was Nashua native Bradford Hill when his “entrepreneurial drive” inspired him to purchase a long-established Nashua bicycle shop, his parents had to co-sign the paperwork on his behalf.

Hill, who grew up in Nashua’s “Little Florida” neighborhood down the hill from Fairmount Heights, was barely 16 when he became just the third owner of downtown Nashua business icon Goodale’s Bike Shop, signalling the start of a nearly 50-year run at the helm that is now in its final days.

Hill, 66, said this week he is in the process of selling the business to the Trek Bicycle Corporation, a nationwide bicycle manufacturer and distributor with several outlets across New England and the New York City area.

The sale is expected to become final on Wednesday, Hill said, adding that the Nashua and Hooksett stores will be closed for the week for remodeling.

Goodale’s third location, in Concord, has been closed for several weeks due to the pandemic, but Trek is planning to reopen it this fall, he said.

Courtesy photo An historic photo of Goodale's Bike Shop founder Walt Goodale, left, his son Roscoe, center, and other son Herbert, is posted on the shop's website. Brad Hill, who bought the business from Roscoe Goodale in 1971, is selling it to Trek Bicycles.

What perhaps pleases Hill the most about what he calls “a difficult decision to retire” is that Trek plans to keep the Goodale’s name on all three shops, and retain the current employees.

That Goodale’s and Trek have been fast friends and close business associates for decades gives Hill added confidence in the shops’ future.

“Trek has been an incredible partner of Goodale’s for 35 years, and I’m confident they will immediately become a central support network for all the cyclists in our community,” Hill said in a statement he posted on the company’s Website.

The “core principles – treating people like family and delivering outstanding customer service” – will remain in place, and “Trek will continue to service all brands of bikes,” Hill added.

Goodale’s has lived at several locations over the course of Hill’s ownership, most all of which have been in, or very near, Railroad Square.

Courtesy photo A youthful Brad Hill poses with some of the bicycles he had in stock back in the 1970s, several years after he bought Goodale's Bike Shop. Hill is in the process of selling the shop after nearly 50 years at the helm.

Roscoe W. Goodale, whose father, Walt M. Goodale, founded the shop in March 1919 in the Stearns block, had been running the business for at least 30 years, most recently on Franklin Street, when he hired a young school kid named Brad Hill in 1966.

The two often nodded greetings when the kid walked past the shop on his way home from school. One day, Goodale asked Hill if he wanted a part time job and hired him.

When Goodale decided to retire, Hill was the heir apparent, despite his youthfulness. In 1971, after signing paperwork with his parents, Hill, 17, settled into the owner’s chair.

About seven years later, Hill moved the shop into larger quarters at 46 Main St., where Peddler’s Daughter is now. He looks back fondly at his years on Main Street.

“I was fortunate to work with many downtown leaders over the years,” Hill said, listing off a series of names of shop owners, bankers, merchants and several terms worth of elected city officials.

Courtesy photo Brad Hill, who bought Goodale's Bike Shop from Roscoe Goodale, left, in 1971, was photographed with Goodale shortly after the sale.

“We did a lot of different things for the downtown. I was fortunate to be part of it,” he said.

Come 1997, Hill branched out, opening a shop in Hooksett.

Five years later, in the summer of 2002, it had become obvious that if he wanted to continue to grow the revenue of the Nashua shop, Hill needed larger quarters.

He found what he needed up on Broad Street, and although it meant leaving downtown, the sprawling complex of buildings was just what he needed to relocate the entire operation, from sales and service to warehousing, storage and administrative offices, to 14B Broad St.

Shop number three came along in July 2005, when Hill opened in space near the Steeplegate Mall in Concord.

Courtesy photo Goodale's Bike Shop owner Brad Hill, who is selling the business after nearly 50 years, was among the participants in last year's Veterans Ride, an annual event that Goodale's sponsors each year.

The company’s most recent event of note was last year’s week-long celebration of Goodale’s 100th anniversary.

The highlight was a gala dinner program Hill hosted at Alpine Grove in Hollis, entertaining fellow bike retailers, vendors, suppliers, an assortment of industry leaders and other guests.

In his Web post, meanwhile, Hill doles out thanks to “our loyal customers,” many of whom became friends, and his employees, “for working through this transition,” which he predicts will be “as smooth as possible for everyone.

“While there may be some changes … we know we are leaving you in good hands,” he wrote.

“Most importantly,” he continued, he sends his thanks to “the four generations of my family who have worked alongside me,” ranging from his parents, siblings and in-laws to children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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