I sure do! Are they no longer in operation?Well I am sure I am much older than you because I remember seeing their ad in the yellow pages when I was in high school in 1954. My friends and I used to go out visit the place in 1956 and the owner was Sal Defeo. He had his father working there. They sold a lot of foreign bikes-British, German, etc. I remember the place had this great macho smell- suggesting danger.; rubber from the tires, leather from the seats, and the gasoline before all the additives were mandated. Long time ago!!. I visited their shop in 1966  and then in 1988. Sal Defeo was still there in 1966 but a new staff was evident in 1988.

Great place, great people and great memories whether you rode dirt bikes, street bikes or both which I did. I grew up in neighboring Little Neck, Queens and back in the day while you were riding in the "Twin Rinks" sandpits if you ever broke down or needed something (Bel-Ray, tire tubes, spark plugs) for your MX bike you always went to Ghost and were back to riding soon enough. I will always remember the inside of the main street store, that is where I learned about all of the bikes from Europe by just looking around and asking Sal, Sonny and of course Griff about what was what and they always would bring you up to speed. Man if I had a dollar for every cigarette I smoked and coke I drank while hanging out there I would have enough money to buy a new Duck!  

Yes, Sal was a great guy and would always help a biker in need. He would always find parts for my Vincent Black Shadow in the early 60'

WOW. talk about memories. I was just talking with some friends about this. I bought my first bike there a Moto Guzzi traded it later for a car and then some. What a place acres of good stuff.

Bought my first bike from him in 1964, (I think) a Ducati. I was just 16,still riding today, not the same bike of course, but been riding ever since, Great memories, Port Washington was a million miles from Astoria.Or at least it seemed.

My Dad was Sal Defeo's lawyer back in the 70's. He defended  all of Sal's lawsuits against him as my father told me he was the biggest snake he had ever met. My dad also handled his divorce & I remember him telling me that he regretted how he destroyed Sal's wife and her attorney as my Dad did very well for Sal.

Sal couldn't even afford to pay my father's fees--so my dad took it out in trade--Moto Guzzis',  Norton Commando, BMW with a sidecar, Ducatti, Dune Buggy and on and on.

Yes, the shop was down in the basement and I used to love going there as it was a cool place to hang out.

Anybody have a picture of the old store taken back in the day.??

....hard to believe they were there all those years and I can't find one photo of it on the internet...

i was cycling down mainstreet yesterday evening and saw sal sitting in front of the original ghost building selling ghost tshirts and hoodies!  we chatted for a long time.. he's trying to find a building in town to open up shop again!   they're still working on bikes at the original building, just under the radar.

Wow

Its kind of crazy to hear all these nice things.   Every one I know didnt like them.  They were over priced and sold bikes that were junk.  its very strang to read all these posts.  Glad you guy had good dealings with them v 

Ghost used to loan motorcycles to a long-vanished motorcycle magazine in the 60s for tests.   

Like post 26 my experience was with Sonny at the british bike meet in Auburn Ma in the nineties.  Had a 1975 Norton for sale or it appeared but all he would say is how much it would cost to fix up a beater.  None of the other vendors acted that way.

Was at Freddy Marsh's shop perhaps when he was 90 years old and could tell he was on the Phone with Sonny wanting money for parts sent.  Moto Guzzi parts bill I expect Freddy Or perhaps what ever relative was there thought the negotiating was before the parts went out.  I totally believe that guy in post 26.

Nice to see lots of warm feelings for a simpler time.  Now most are essentially motorcycle super stores and I see guys claiming to be service managers in the pits at races walking around without their shoes tied.

franj

Sure do!  Born in 1957, I made many trips there during the summer of 1966(?) when an older brother rebuilt his BSA 441 Shooting Star.  We practically wore a groove between our home in Plainview and their shop!  As a young boy, it was my first glimpse into the world of gear-heads.  Thanks for bringing back some sweet, sweet memories of a very special time...