Meet Sam Lettes | Owner/Operator of Hello Bicycle & Cafe

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Lettes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, what matters most to you?
Absurdity.

Absurdity is how I ensure that I don’t accept the world at face value. I try to see it for all its strangeness and lack of reason. From that view, I make decisions that would have typically never been made had I been looking at them from a traditional viewpoint.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
“Hello Bicycle & Cafe” is a place I thought about later in life. Growing up, my friends and I would always meet at a few specific spots around town. It was never really a coordinated thing. We just always knew that if we went to one of the usual places, someone would be there that we knew. As an adult, I found myself craving that same sort of experience. I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could go somewhere and know someone would be there so I could share a funny thing I saw? I knew this would not be an easy thing to achieve as I grow older.  As adults, we tend to settle into monotony. Over time, we wander out into the night with a fist full of quarters and a determination to beat that high score on Ms. Pacman with less regularity. I figured that if I made sure to approach every day like one of those summer nights, people would remember their similar experiences and the joy these times brought.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is a roadside attraction called “The Thing.” It used to just be a little stop on the way to apple picking in Wilcox, but is now something totally different. It can’t be described and can only be experienced.

It may sound crazy, but the Food City at 22nd and Country Club has the best flan in the city.

Golf n’ Stuff is always a good time if it’s not too hot. Make sure to look up the old theme song. It lives rent-free in my head.

Unfortunately, Meet Rack has shut down. So if you want to be branded like cattle in a dive bar, you’ll have to insult the cook like old times.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The original owner of the business, Miki Nishihata, for giving me the freedom to succeed and grow. My two business partners, Jordan Lewis and Marc Padilla, for helping expand the business and continuing to provide daily support and new ideas.

Website: hellobicycle.com

Instagram: hello.bicycle.and.cafe

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-bicycle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellobicycle

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hello-bicycle-and-cafe-tucson