Planet Bike Reopens in East Brunswick

It’s been several months and a lot of work, but on Friday an East Brunswick landmark reopened its doors.

Planet Bike returned to the township in a new location, -1020 Route 18, near the old Movie City 5 and just a few stores down from Shogun 18 – after a fire destroyed it’s original location near the Brunswick Square Mall in February.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls and it’s been hard because I’ve been sending customers to my Old Bridge store,” said owner Barry Dicken. “When we came here, people were glad to see us back and the said ‘you made my day.’ ”

The Feb. 2 fire started in the attic of the building Planet Bike and destroyed the building, which also housed Asian nails and United Check Cashing, both of which have had to move. Planet Bike suffered extensive fire damage, and Asian nails and United Check Cashing suffered fire and water damage.

While they’ve only been back for a few days, Dicken says its business as usual for the shop, which carries a variety of bicycles ranging from bikes for kids to bikes for serious riders.

“The first thing we ask is where they’ll be riding it and we get the appropriate bike for your style of riding,” he said. “We find the appropriate bike for the appropriate use and let you try them.”

Bicycles are assembled on the premises and Dicken offers a lifetime guarantee on frames and a one-year guarantee on parts.

"I know for a fact that these bikes can be handed down to the nest in line, they definitely will last,” he said.

Planet Bike is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can be reached at 732-651-8080.