Key Points
- Wheel & House is a multi-concept neighborhood business located at 1502 Rucker Avenue, Everett. It is a combination of a bicycle shop, a vintage store, an ice cream parlor, a live music venue, and a café.
- The owners of Wheel & House are John Lehman and Betty Perkins, partners who met in 2017 dancing in Conor Byrne Pub on Mardi Gras and decided to create their own venture while talking about their dream lives.
- Prior to opening the shop, Perkins was working as a professional glassblower and vintage clothing curator for almost 20 years, while Lehman has been spending almost three decades professionally repairing bicycles and working in restaurants.
- Vintage clothes from the 1960s to the 1990s can be found in the front room of the store, whereas rare materials, furs, and formal clothes are stored in The Atlas Parlor in the back room by appointment.
- Lehman runs the bike repair segment, providing a variety of repair services starting at USD 15 for a tire repair up to USD 1,500 for a custom-made bike, stressing “repairs, builds and straight talk.”
- The restaurant provides “southern comfort” food reflecting the origins of its co-owners who come from Texas and Virginia; some of its dishes include “Fire in the Wheel House Chili” (costing USD 16 with the additional charge of USD 2 for pulled pork) and “Mac-E-Mac & the Funky Bunch” mac and cheese that is supplemented with brisket or pulled pork.
- In order to satisfy vegetarians, Lehman creates a vegetarian base for dishes such as the chili.
- The bar arranges live music shows, like acoustic happy hours with such musicians as Barb Henry Kahawai; the schedule of the events is posted on wheelandhouse.com.
- Such locals as Stephanie Dunnihoo, John Stokes, and Annie Russell, who remembered coming here as a child to C-Vans Grocery, have adopted the place as a community hangout and a place where people meet.
- Wheel & House works from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Everett (Evening Washington News) September 2, 2026 — Nestled quietly among the residential properties lining Rucker Avenue, Wheel & House has rapidly established itself as a multifaceted cornerstone for the local community, operating simultaneously as a bicycle workshop, a vintage apparel boutique, an ice cream parlour, a live music venue, and a neighbourhood cafe.
What is Wheel & House and where is it located?
Situated at 1502 Rucker Avenue, Wheel & House occupies a historic neighbourhood footprint that long-time residents remember from past decades. As reported by journalist Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald, local patron Annie Russell recalled visiting the site during her childhood when it operated as C-Vans Grocery.
“As a child, coming in and getting candy here was a core memory,”
Russell stated, adding that she now brings her family to the shop to build new memories while appreciating the dedication invested by the proprietors.
The enterprise is co-owned by John Lehman and Betty Perkins. Long before the couple met in 2017 while dancing at the Conor Byrne Pub on Mardi Gras, they pursued entirely distinct professional paths. Lehman has dedicated decades to bicycle mechanics, starting when he was 15 years old, while Perkins spent approximately 20 years collecting and rocking vintage fashion pieces. The partnership and business concept materialized following a single exploratory prompt.
“What does your dream life look like?”
Perkins recalled asking Lehman, as documented by Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald.
How do the vintage retail and bicycle repair operations function?
Inside the shop, visitors are greeted by eclectic interiors featuring diverse vintage wallpaper patterns, including a sock-hop-inspired spread positioned above an extensive display of vintage clothing. The front room showcases wearable pieces spanning the 1960s to the 1990s culled from Perkins’ personal collection. For patrons seeking rare, delicate fabrics, vintage furs, and formalwear, appointments can be booked for The Atlas Parlor, tucked away in the rear of the building.
“When you have a really good design, it doesn’t really matter what era it comes from,”
Perkins stated, according to Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald.
On the opposite side of the establishment, Lehman applies nearly three decades of professional experience to bicycle maintenance and custom construction. According to the official business website cited by Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald, Lehman provides “repairs, builds and straight talk.” Service fees range from USD 15 for standard flat tyre repairs up to USD 1,500 for fully customized bicycle builds.
Local resident John Stokes initially visited solely for the bicycle shop, but quickly became a regular after exploring the broader offerings.
“The overall aesthetic,”
Stokes stated to Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald.
“I give it an A++.”
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What food and beverage options are available at the cafe?
The back of the establishment houses a bar area serving Southern comfort food and beverages in whimsical cartoon drinking glasses alongside scoops of ice cream. The culinary menu draws direct inspiration from Lehman and Perkins’ respective roots in Texas and Virginia. Signature dishes include the “Fire in the Wheel House Chili,” priced at USD 16 with an optional USD 2 addition for pulled pork, and the “Mac-E-Mac & the Funky Bunch” macaroni and cheese. Most comfort food selections can be upgraded with house-smoked brisket or pulled pork.
While traditional Southern recipes frequently rely on animal-based seasoning products, Lehman deliberately developed a vegetarian base for staples such as the chili to accommodate non-meat eaters. Reflecting on recipe development, Lehman stated to Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald,
“The first batch I made, nobody else would eat it but me because it was way too spicy.”
Seating arrangements blend casual dining with interactive community spaces. Patrons can sit at tables featuring embedded board games like Candy Land beneath glass table tops, with game pieces stored nearby alongside bottles of hot sauce.
How does the venue serve as a community space and music venue?
Beyond retail and dining, Wheel & House functions as an active cultural hub. Acoustic performances, such as the monthly acoustic happy hour featuring local artist Barb Henry Kahawai, provide evening entertainment for patrons. Future live music events and schedules are regularly updated via wheelandhouse.com.
Local families have incorporated the destination into their weekly routines. Stephanie Dunnihoo, who resides a short bicycle ride away from the shop, reported visiting multiple times a week with her family, noting that her daughter enjoys the board games while she browses the vintage collection.
“It feels like a third place,”
Dunnihoo stated to Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald.
“There’s not really any places that you can really just go to hang out. But for main people, that’s the place that we go.”
Ultimately, the co-owners view the space as an anchor for human connection. Summarizing the core philosophy behind the venture, Perkins stated to Taylor Miceli of The Daily Herald,
“It has become a home and a hangout for people to just belong. Connecting people back to good memories of their childhood has been really great because people just kind of light up.”
Wheel & House maintains operating hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and closes at 7 p.m. on Sundays.
