RUBARB Community Bike Shop

Closed Wednesday March 15th

On March 15th, 2023 RUBARB will be closed. We will reopen to the regular Monday/Wednesday the following week.

RUBARB Hours & Location

RUBARB is located on the corner of N. Tonti and Piety (in what used to be a neighborhood club called the “Jewel Box”), in the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans.  2239 Piety St.

Updated hours starting January 30th, 2023

Mondays 4-8pm
Wednesdays 4-8pm

(call 943-0216 for more info!)

Volunteers began RUBARB in March 2006, after collecting heaps of unused flood bikes, pulling them from garbage piles in the streets, and fixing them up for both residents and volunteers. Bikes that would have otherwise been sent to a dump of Post Katrina rubbish, are now being reused by many people in New Orleans. RUBARB has evolved into a full scale upper 9th ward community bike shop. A shop which began with programs such as bike lending, and bike building workshops has now become RUBARB.

 RUBARB is a tax exempt 501c(3) with id# 26-4559331.

August 2005

Hurricane Katrina

Katrina hits New Orleans, destroying thousands of homes and displacing families.

August 2005

March 2006

RUBARB opens

Volunteers from Common Ground turn an empty shed in the parking lot of St. Mary of the Angels ( upper 9th ward) into a space to work on bikes.

March 2006

2006-2015

Youth focused activities

Field trips range from hikes in Jean Lafitte Park, baseball and basketball games, the zoo, puppet shows and performances. Our annual trips to the beach in Waveland, MS and heading to Jazzfest are among the favorites.

2006-2015

October 2013

Bike! Bike! Conference

RUBARB helps host the regional Bike!Bike! Conference with many successful workshops and a party with music, food, raffles and an alley cat race for the kids and visitors.

October 2013

September 11, 2016

RUBARB Moves

Sept. ’11: Volunteers work hard all summer to renovate the old Jewel Box, a former neighborhood club which will be the new home of RUBARB. Grand Re-opening party a big hit with food, music, relay races, a puppet show and bounce house!

September 11, 2016

2017

2017 and beyond

RUBARB continues to offer a free space for folks to learn about, fix and build bicycles… run only by volunteers! Plans to bring back ladies/trans/queer night in the works!

2017