New Bedford Barber Shop Owner Is Bringing a Huge Motorcycle Block Party to Purchase Street

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — If you like motorcycles, live music, a good time, or are just looking to spend one more day outside before it gets too cold, one New Bedford entrepreneur has the event for you.

The 2nd Annual Nice Motorbike Show is happening this Saturday, October 17 from noon to 6 p.m. on Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford. It’s the brainchild of Danny Baptista, owner of Stepping Razor, a throwback barber shop on the same block where the motorbike show is taking place.

“Last year, I did it on a much smaller scale, and it was a hit. I figured, hey, this is going to work. People love it, and I had a great time. So I figured, let’s do a block party,” Baptista said in an appearance on WBSM Friday. “Downtown New Bedford has Joe Jesus’ 50s Night, and everyone loves it and has a good time, but there’s no motorcycle version of that. So I figured I’d do it.”

What to Expect at the 2nd Annual Nice Motorbike Show in New Bedford

The show will feature vintage motorcycles, choppers, one-of-a-kind custom builds, and even a few hot rods. Last year, there were about 40 custom bikes at the show, and Baptista expects many more this year.

Baptista has partnered with AHA! New Bedford for the event, which will also feature vendors, food and drink, and plenty of music.

Courtesy Danny Baptista

Live Music, Vendors, and Downtown New Bedford Vendors

“We’ve got a full stage setup in the middle of the street, with professional sound and three different performances,” Baptista said. “We’ve got Mark Milloff from the Cannibal Ramblers, the All-Star Stars, who I believe are out of Providence, and Atlantic Thrills as the headliner. Eddie Youngblood will be spinning vinyl throughout the day.”

The Nice Motorbike Show is free to attend, and Baptista is hoping folks will not only come for the event but also visit some of the downtown businesses as well.

“The main goal is to create more visibility in downtown New Bedford,” he said. “You can come down, check out the motorbikes, have a good time, get some food, maybe have a beverage or two, and enjoy the music. You can also see all the shops around here. Maybe you don’t get to come down very often, and you discover some new stuff.”

Stepping Razor Owner Previews New Downtown Pub 'The Seabird'

In addition to his successful barber shop here in the Whaling City, Baptista also runs a Stepping Razor location in Brooklyn, New York, driving back and forth between the two each week. He believes so much in downtown New Bedford, he’s opening another business around the corner from Stepping Razor.

“We’re in the construction phase right now, but we’ll be opening a neighborhood pub, a really cool rock-and-roll pub with a killer jukebox,” he said. “It’s called The Seabird, so keep a lookout for that. Hopefully, it’ll open in early spring, or maybe late winter if we’re lucky.”

“Downtown New Bedford is definitely cultivating into sort of a village, and that’s really cool to see happening,” Baptista said.