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MyspaceAfter three years, WheelHouse Bikes is shuttering its doors. College buddies Erik Wright and Evan Minogue opened the store during a two-year span in which four other bicycle shops went into business. Unlike the others, however, WheelHouse specializes in utilitarian bicycles and Dutch-style commuters.
Minogue noted that while Santa Barbara is a world-renowned destination for recreational road and mountain biking, its citizens have not yet adopted bicycles as their primary source of transportation. “We may have just been ahead of our time,” he said.
The rent on WheelHouse’s 3,300-square-foot property at the corner of Anacapa and Cota Streets — which the store proprietors donated for Farmers Market bicycle parking every Saturday — would have increased in March, precipitating the decision to close. Wright and Minogue plan on continuing their bike advocacy through an online information center and blog. “The community supported us and we are grateful for that,” said Minogue.
The freewheels stop clicking on January 31.
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Comments
And the commercial market has so many other enterprises eager to move in and pay the higher rents?
John_Adams (anonymous profile)
January 20, 2012 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is sad to see this fun, quirky, creative and beneficial business close up shop.
I would love to move my business (Ooty's Scooters) into that location. However as a local,family run shop, I too could not afford the higher rents. It seems the only businesses that can afford to lease in downtown SB are the bigg out of town corporations.
3rdgensb (anonymous profile)
January 20, 2012 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great shop, but even if you're a true believer their stuff is pricey. High quality BUT pricey; and a tough sell in a down economy.
italiansurg (anonymous profile)
January 20, 2012 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Total bummer. I liked that shop, have friends that work there. Did a lot for the cycling community. I agree about the hugher-than-normal pricing for some bikes, but quality stuff costs $$$. My personal favorite shops are (& not in this order):
Bicycle Bob's (general service & good MTB, XC & road stuff)
Cranky's (BMX/dirt jumping stuff)
Fasttrack (top end road, XC & MTB stuff)
The Bike Stand (retro road stuff & collectibles)
As a Shimano trained tech, I can usually fix anything on any bike thrown my way & don't need the shops for repair & as for custom race parts there's always Dan's Comp or J&R BMX online.
But it's always good to visit my local shops, talk w/ the staff & give them some business or send people their way. I gladly did that w/ WheelHouse :) henry
hank (anonymous profile)
January 20, 2012 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having been to Amsterdam a number of times, I loved to see the Dutch bikes at the Wheelhouse. Had a hard time convincing myself not to buy one. The problem as I see it is that Amsterdam is incredibly flat and those beautiful heavy duty, and heavy bikes will last several lifetimes whee the weight of the bike doesn't matter. I just couldn't see myself trying to pump them up all the hills of Santa Barbara. Great products, just in the wrong locale.
TrailHacker (anonymous profile)
January 23, 2012 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)