Our fancy location

Aaah!... Wicker Park!

(Rapid Transit's original sign, painted by Chicago's theater personality Jeff Dorchen. Sadly, it was destroyed in a basement flood...)

Where the going rates for a commercial lease hover around $30-40 (and in one place even a whopping $75/sf) according to the MLS of Northern Illinois. To figure out what that costs a month, multiply the base rent by the square footage of the facility and divide by 12 months. Let's say you have a 3,000 sf storefront, and $35/sf. Your monthly rent would be $8,750, plus perhaps $250-350 in your share of property taxes, maintenance fees and insurance due to the landlord.

When we signed our lease with the original landlord for the little dump on the corner of North and Wolcott back in 1993, our rent was a thousand bucks per month, and a handshake. Little did we know that 1900 W. North Ave. would become a coveted address, commanding several times that amount in rent. But this is now, that was then.

(Schwinn Stingray, donated by our friend Mark, getting ready to become our shop emblem)

Then, the space was left vacant by the Curious Theater Branch, the street was crawling with pimps and prostitutes, artists had the run of the place and the neighborhood teetered on the edge of gentrification. The giant question mark on the sidewalk in front of our new storefront, painted by the departing tenants, foreshadowed an uncertain fate.

But we didn't have time to ask questions. A thousand bucks was a lot of money to two people with no income and the planned opening day looming over the horizon. We rolled up our sleeves and went to work converting the black, dusty theater space to a friendly neighborhood bike shop.

(Chris, Mark and Deb figuring out how to hang the Stingray)

Did I mention the walls were black? And the ceiling? The walls inside of the bathroom (such as it was) were black. For weeks, Chris returned home covered from head to toe with a thick layer of black dust, flecks of paint and plaster. As chunks of walls and ceiling came down, inside the rafters we discovered exciting things like an enormous abandoned rats nest, a broken Schlitz neon sign, syringes and spoons, rodent corpses, remnants of old costumes, moldy magazines, unending supply of dust and dirt. When the first roller dipped in white paint touched the wall, we danced with wild abandon across the gritty linoleum floor. Friends and relatives came to help with the various jobs that still needed to get done. Permits? Back then, no one asked. Paper taped to the windows concealed our activities, and no one checked up on us back then.

(Now Open. You can see, that even on our first day we were committed to bike commuters: fenders and racks are in evidence)

Amidst this frantic activity, a couple daring suppliers' reps came and perched with us on milk crates, clipboards in hand, taking orders (on credit) from two young people with a vision, persuasive manner, a word of honor, and... well... not much else.

That was then...

(The beta version of the Stingray)

Last summer, when our leases were up for renewal, and we were considering all options, our attorney suggested we ask ourselves, whether a small, family run bicycle shop is still viable at the corner of North and Wolcott in Chicago.

I guess we'll find out.

Comments

[Jennifer]

All right, all right, I'll come up this weekend and get a new helmet already. And maybe some inner tubes or something.

Say, I've been meaning to ask: Since you sell folding bikes, do you also carry lots of tiny parts? Puncture-resistant tires, for example?

[Justyna]

Some small parts may have to be ordered, but we do have some things in stock.
And, yes! it was all a ploy to get you to come in. I know it's a trek for you.
(ps. thanks, as always)

[patrick in chicago]

I have not been by in awhile but I will be now! Must....support....the cause!

[Justyna]

Please do! Especially on a snowy day like today.

[elliptical reviews]

No offense, but i suggest admin adding a google+ button for easy share!