Lil Bill has been like a father to me ever since I moved out to L.A. He helped me move into my new apartment, he taught me how to change a tire, he gives the best bear hugs, and he has one of the biggest hearts I've ever encountered.
Lil Bill and his father have been a part of the USC surrounding community for over 40 years, with Big Bill's Bike Shop servicing both students and community members for decades. In the Fall of 2016, the University of Southern California Administration reached out to Lil Bill, asking him to take over an on-campus bike repair shed. Ever since then, Lil Bill's his bike shop has been an integral part of campus, providing maintenance services to students who pass by on the daily. Not only does Lil Bill provide students with inexpensive tune-ups, he also serves as the face of the USC neighborhood. USC students, many of whom do not interact with the community members off campus, are given the opportunity to get to know a real person from the South L.A. area every time they go to Lil Bill for help.
USC has always touted its commitment to, and support of, the neighbors and community members surrounding the college campus. It seems, however, that this no longer holds true as USC has told Lil Bill that he must remove his bike shed from campus come May of 2017. A more expensive and less accessible bike shop will open off campus with the arrival of the USC Village and USC wants to funnel Lil Bill's customers to this new shop without any regard to the student body's wants or needs, let alone to the livelihood of Lil Bill and his family.
Let the University of Southern California know that you care about small businesses and our community members. Sign this petition to keep Lil Bill and his shop on campus and in business!
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
April 2, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 30, 2017
March 28, 2017
I am truly overwhelmed by how many of you stepped up to support Lil Bill. If you could send this link to a few people in your life right now we might just hit that one thousand mark to show the university that this shop belongs here.
Reached 100 supporters
February 28, 2017
1,716 Comments
Dental hygiene 1980. Come on USC. You can do better than this. Lil Bill's bike shed needs to stay on campus. Students don't need a fancy shop off campus at the Village. Not convenient and not cool. You invited him there and now asking him to leave? Smh
I grew up right down the street,Vermont 56th,we'd ride our bikes down to the shop. It's been a fixture in the neighborhood. This is an important business,more than just a fly by night burger joint. In my opinion,"if it ain't broke don't fix it."
USC should have offered Lil Bill a spot in the new UV...that would've been the initial appropriate thing to do. Now someone either needs to allow him to keep his shop where it is, or make him a supervising manager of the new shop opening in the new UV.
Bill was always a great guy to the people and cared about his craft and our happiness more than his own. He even declined payment from multiple students if he felt the fix was trivial compared to his time. Love the guy and wish him the best.
This is so incredibly devastating for our entire Trojan family. If anything, Bill should be the one getting store-front priority at the new USC Village. You don't just kick people out after they've been serving this community for over 40 years. Shame on USC.
A local, small business serving the community.
Let Lil Bill keep his business
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Lil Bill has been like a father to me ever since I moved out to L.A. He helped me move into my new apartment, he taught me how to change a tire, he gives the best bear hugs, and he has one of the biggest hearts I've ever encountered.
Lil Bill and his father have been a part of the USC surrounding community for over 40 years, with Big Bill's Bike Shop servicing both students and community members for decades. In the Fall of 2016, the University of Southern California Administration reached out to Lil Bill, asking him to take over an on-campus bike repair shed. Ever since then, Lil Bill's his bike shop has been an integral part of campus, providing maintenance services to students who pass by on the daily. Not only does Lil Bill provide students with inexpensive tune-ups, he also serves as the face of the USC neighborhood. USC students, many of whom do not interact with the community members off campus, are given the opportunity to get to know a real person from the South L.A. area every time they go to Lil Bill for help.
USC has always touted its commitment to, and support of, the neighbors and community members surrounding the college campus. It seems, however, that this no longer holds true as USC has told Lil Bill that he must remove his bike shed from campus come May of 2017. A more expensive and less accessible bike shop will open off campus with the arrival of the USC Village and USC wants to funnel Lil Bill's customers to this new shop without any regard to the student body's wants or needs, let alone to the livelihood of Lil Bill and his family.
Let the University of Southern California know that you care about small businesses and our community members. Sign this petition to keep Lil Bill and his shop on campus and in business!
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
April 2, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 30, 2017
March 28, 2017
I am truly overwhelmed by how many of you stepped up to support Lil Bill. If you could send this link to a few people in your life right now we might just hit that one thousand mark to show the university that this shop belongs here.
Reached 100 supporters
February 28, 2017
1,716 Comments
As proud Alumni of SC, I'm really sad to see the university treat people like this. I will not donate another penny until the university resolves this in a fair manner. Shame on USC, you're part of the community, you need to treat people in a fair manner.
Dental hygiene 1980. Come on USC. You can do better than this. Lil Bill's bike shed needs to stay on campus. Students don't need a fancy shop off campus at the Village. Not convenient and not cool. You invited him there and now asking him to leave? Smh
I grew up right down the street,Vermont 56th,we'd ride our bikes down to the shop. It's been a fixture in the neighborhood. This is an important business,more than just a fly by night burger joint. In my opinion,"if it ain't broke don't fix it."
USC should have offered Lil Bill a spot in the new UV...that would've been the initial appropriate thing to do. Now someone either needs to allow him to keep his shop where it is, or make him a supervising manager of the new shop opening in the new UV.
Bill was always a great guy to the people and cared about his craft and our happiness more than his own. He even declined payment from multiple students if he felt the fix was trivial compared to his time. Love the guy and wish him the best.
This is so incredibly devastating for our entire Trojan family. If anything, Bill should be the one getting store-front priority at the new USC Village. You don't just kick people out after they've been serving this community for over 40 years. Shame on USC.
A local, small business serving the community.
Let Lil Bill keep his business
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As proud Alumni of SC, I'm really sad to see the university treat people like this. I will not donate another penny until the university resolves this in a fair manner. Shame on USC, you're part of the community, you need to treat people in a fair manner.