There's an entire generation of gearheads who have grown up on a healthy diet of automobile-themed shows on the Discovery Channel, chief of which was the unforgettable American Chopper series. The show followed the drama behind the world's greatest custom motorcycles coming out of Orange County Choppers, a shop based in, you guessed it, Orange County, New York.

So how exactly does a shop named after the place it was set up in just move halfway across the country to Florida? Well, since OCC is famous across the country and the world, there's no harm, really. After the show exited production (for the first time in 2010), the firm continued to grow with a cult-like following. They now not only pitch themselves as a motorcycle manufacturer but as a lifestyle brand.

And while American Choppers may have been canceled because of the drama between OCC founder Paul Teutul Sr. and son Paul Jr., it's not the reason Orange County Choppers finally moved to sunny Florida. What's more, OCC still makes custom Harley-Davidsons and are even more ingrained with the brand now.

Updated June 2023: We've updated this article with all you need to know on why Orange County Choppers moved to Florida and where the Teutuls are today. We also tell you what happened to the cool Orange County Choppers headquarters back in New York.

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Why Did Orange County Choppers Relocate From New York To Florida?

The original Orange County Choppers workshop opened its doors in 1999. Attracting the Discovery Channel's attention in 2002, the shop starred in the reality show American Chopper until 2010. Over six series, the team showed the New York-based company build custom motorbikes that catered to every whim of their customers. This is the key part behind their business; However, the team has now relocated. In 2020 Paul Sr. decided to move south from New York down to Florida.

Now in the year-round sunny state of Florida, the family business has a much longer riding season. They now operate in St Petersburg on the western coast of the state, where their business has now expanded into a sort of “country club” for motorcycles, which helps explain the move. Next to its premises is a Harley-Davidson dealership and the Roadhouse Museum. The venue opened in July 2021 and hosted live music in its bar and restaurant section.

What Happened To The Orange County Chopper Headquarters In New York?

Jimerb Via Wikimedia Commons-1

The New York headquarters was built by Paul Teutul Sr. and his team during the prime days of Orange County Chopper. If we trace things back to its roots, then it should be noted that Teutul Sr.'s custom motorcycle shop was actually derived from his prosperous steel business of the 1990s. It was actually the fame of the American Chopper TV show that made it possible for the OCC family to build a gigantic $12 million custom facility in 2003.

But things fell apart with the destructive feud that broke out between the father and son - Paul Teutul Sr. and Teutul Jr. This eventually caused the show to slump and be temporarily called off. This was when the huge 61,000 square feet OCC headquarters became a liability. Finally, when there were no other options left to take things forward sustainably, the OCC New York headquarters was sold off to avoid foreclosure. Even after the sale, OCC continued to lease a part of the property, but that was doing no good for the business.

The property was supposedly sold off by its lender, GE Commercial Finance Business Corporation. But in 2023, as per WGNA, the Orange County Chopper's ex-headquarters in NY is left abandoned and is deteriorating every passing day. It is quite sad to see a once flourishing custom motorcycle house in such a dilapidated condition. But OCC's Florida shift was a clever move and has borne a much cooler headquarters than NY's.

Related: Here’s How Harley-Davidson Became The Favorite Bike Of American Motorcycle Clubs

What Happened To Orange County Choppers After American Chopper?

The Orange County Choppers' new premises in Florida co-hosts Bert's St. Pete's Bike Fest, which seems like a younger, less unruly version of Sturgis if that's your rhyme. The first edition, the St. Pete's Bike Fest 2022, saw thousands of bikers ride down for good ol' rock concerts over four days, charity events (and bikini contests), and plenty of great food.

The reality TV show finished over a decade ago, but without it, the company is going strong. They now prominently sell a series of merchandise, which includes clothes and “cool stuff.” That means selling everything from collapsible dog bowls to poker chips. Continuing this expansion of their services, Orange County Choppers offers an endorsement service where for a fee, Paul Sr. will appear in adverts and also offer marketing plans. Previous clients include the likes of Hard Rock Cafe, CAT, and, surprisingly, Bic.

On their new premises, motorbikes from the show feature different items of merchandise. These include those commissioned by NASA to celebrate the Discovery Shuttle and their bike with tank tracks instead of wheels. OCC still produces custom motorcycles with as much care as it did in the early 2000s. However, those who aren't fans of the show know it spawned a classic in meme culture.

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Orange County Choppers Florida Is More Than Just A Custom Bike Shop

OCC's New York headquarters was surely a cool place for bikers to hang out and do Christmas shopping! But the setback that forced them to shift to Florida gave them a fresh slate to start drawing. And boy, did Paul Teutul Sr. and his team trace a way cooler and exciting hangout for bikers from all over the world.

Located in Pinellas Park, Florida, the new headquarters is named OCC Road House and Museum. It has also been cleverly located adjacent to Bert's Barracuda Harley-Davidson so that you can go in, buy a brand-new Harley, and take it right to Orange County Choppers for them to start creating one-off head-turners!

In Florida, it is not just about being a 'custom shop'. Orange County Choppers has evolved into being the perfect hanging spot for bikers from all over America. Apart from a custom motorcycle-building shop and merchandise and apparel store, it also includes a museum, a restaurant, a billiard hall, and a concert pavilion. Essentially, this new location in St Petersburg is a Mecca for motorcyclists.

Orange County Choppers Makes Wild Bikes And Merchandise

Dragon Bike
Orange County Choppers

Referring to its clients as "family," the company continues to build on its reputation as a small family business. They take each build from concept to completion. Orange County Choppers have the utmost confidence in their abilities, "You Dream It, We Create It", is their tagline. They showcase a broad range of projects on their page, including Motor Trikes.

While some of these projects look remarkably like a standard bike with just some added flames, others have eye-catching design features like birds extending from the handlebars. Whatever your take on Orange County Chopper's builds is, it's great to see these motorcycle-building icons from our childhoods still at it.