Editors Note: The LADOT Bike Blog would like to introduce our newest series, Community Profile. This series will provide an insightful look into bicycle friendly and bicycle related businesses in the City of Los Angeles. We hope to show why these businesses choose to be bike friendly, and how they are helping to improve the qualify of life for all Angelenos. The LADOT Bike Program is committed to encouraging and supporting bicycling in the City of Los Angeles. If you know of a business that would like to be included in our latest series here on the LADOT Bike Blog, feel free to leave us a comment below, or fill out our form, or email us at ladotbikeblog@gmail.com.

Endo Customs owner Bobby Endo standing next to our bicycle rack marking

Our first Community Profile business is Endo Customs – a custom kit shop located just south of Downtown Los Angeles. We met the owner of Endo Customs, Bobby Endo during a visit to go mark bicycle racks that he had requested. Bobby was gracious enough to show us around his shop and agreed to be the test subject for our latest series.

Q. What is the name of your business?



My name is Bobby Endo; I am the Creative Director for Endo Customs. My business partner is Vic Nanongkhai, head mechanic. We specialize in the design and manufacturing of custom cycling apparel.

Q. When did you open? How have things been so far?

We started manufacturing about a year ago and recently moved our shop into Downtown. We’re off of Santa Fe Ave. on the east side of Downtown, which is ideal because it’s a little bit quieter and not too congested. We are still getting settled into the new neighborhood but have been thoroughly stoked to be here.

Q. What do you feel is particularly unique about Los Angeles’s bike culture and how have you moved to fill that niche?

Cycling in LA is so unique because there’s a huge variety of riding that we can enjoy from locations, groups and types of riding. I like having so many options, it’s hard not to get involved. This amount of variety in LA cyling has created such a diverse bike culture where you begin to see a lot of cross over with other personal interests that cyclists have.

When I started cycling, I had the hardest time finding gear that piqued my own interests. I wished that some of my favorite brands, which I wear or admire when I’m not riding would somehow miraculously produce a cycling kit for me to buy. I wanted a kit that not only reflected my personal style, but also had a premium level of quality. These feelings triggered the creation of Endo Customs and what’s at the heart of it all today.

We’re a shop for the cyclists who want to create a kit that’s unique. Beyond the design, the quality, or the fact that we manufacture all of our products in-house here in Los Angeles, we just strive to keep it fresh.

Special thanks to Endo Customs for taking the time to answer our questions. Find out more about Endo Customs by visiting their website.

Desire to Inspire from Joseph Torres on Vimeo.