Quaker Valley area residents may soon see new vehicles hitting the roads in their neighborhoods.
These aren't the latest Fords, Subarus, or Pouches, but street-legal golf carts from a store that recently opened in Leet.
Village Buggy, an all-electric vehicle dealership, was founded by Matthew and Jenna Simmons.
They officially opened their doors for business at 620 Ambridge Avenue earlier this month.
The store's name is a nod to the Village section of the borough and is a reference to Pittsburgh carts.
Real estate investor Matthew Simmons said he was inspired to start the company after seeing people cruising around in golf carts in Florida and other southern states.
“We fell in love with the idea and thought Sewickley would be a perfect area for golf carts because it’s flat and walkable,” he said. “A lot of people live nearby, so we thought we might buy one ourselves, so we started looking into the laws.
“We found out it was completely legal and said, 'If we're going to get it for ourselves, we might as well sell it,' because a lot of other people want them. Because we know that.”
Matthew Simmons has obtained a seller's license and has already received more than 20 orders.
“I think if people start seeing them on the roads in the villages, more people will come forward,” he said. “This was born out of a love for Sewickley. We believe carts add a fun accent to the village. They're environmentally friendly. They're easy to park. They're fun to drive. I think that will be a plus.”
A typical golf cart can travel up to 15 miles per hour and doesn't require as many safety features as a street-legal cart.
Simmons said the street cart is classified as a neighborhood electric vehicle and can travel up to 25 miles per hour.
Just like any other car, headlights, taillights, seatbelts, windshields, turn signals, etc., it also has a VIN number. Carts are available with 2 to 6 seats.
Sizes range from 4 to 6 feet wide and 10 to 14 feet long.
Prices range from $9,000 to $14,500.
Village Buggy carts are manufactured by Epic and Icon, which was named 2023 Overall Golf Cart Brand and Street Legal Low Speed Vehicle by Golf Cart Resource.
Simmons then provides one-on-one consultation for further customization.
The carts will be delivered to the township shop for safety inspection and assembly completion before being sent to Fasmo Automotive in Ambridge for state inspection.
The sale is then completed and the vehicle documents are notarized at a local notary. Village Buggy does not accept insurance.
Simmons assured buyers that the carts can be plugged into a household electrical outlet. No EV charging station required.
The cart can travel 25 to 30 miles on a full charge. Depending on usage, the battery takes 4 to 8 hours to charge.
Village Buggy's business hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but visits to the showroom are by reservation only.
Vinny Garofalo, owner of B&J Golf Carts on Camp Horn Road, visited Village Buggy on March 18 to talk shopping with Simmons.
B&J has carts like those you'd see on golf courses and long driveways, not on the streets.
Garofalo, who has been in the cart business since 2019, said he was impressed and excited by what he saw.
“It’s a beautiful looking cart,” he said. “Just by looking at the reactions online and people’s reactions on the news, I can see that everyone is really excited about the carts coming to Sewickley. … It’s good that business is starting to pick up a little bit more.” That's it.
“A lot of people (in Pennsylvania) think about their golf carts half the year. Now they can get these covers and drive them in the winter.
“…This will make it easier for people to get around without their own cars and will put a smile on the faces of many people driving on our roads.”
If you are interested in Village Buggy, please call 412-799-8070 or email info@villagebuggy.com.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania with an interest in festivals and food. Contact him at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
