Bike shops shift into high gear
Plus: Sign shop adapts; Eastland and Atrium rezoning hearings on Monday; Blue Ridge Parkway reopens; Is Gov. Cooper growing a mullet?
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Sales soar as Charlotte cyclists hunt for new and used bikes and repairs; ‘We’re just busting our butts’
The Spoke Easy bike shop on Elizabeth Avenue, like other area bike shops, has seen a surge in demand for new and used bikes as well as repairs since the coronavirus pandemic began.
By Cristina Bolling
Workers at Charlotte bike shops say they’re pedaling harder than ever, as a lack of entertainment options and glorious spring weather have customers wanting to buy and repair bikes in record numbers.
“We’re pulling our hair out. We’ve probably increased business three-fold,” said Dread Fiyah, manager of The Spoke Easy on Elizabeth Avenue. Workers there are using ultraviolet light wands to sterilize bikes and aren’t allowing customers in the shop to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Nationwide, sales of adult bikes was up 121% in March over a year ago, according to retail sales data from NPD Group. Independent bike shops saw a rise in service/repairs of 20%, according to the data.
Fiyah says he’s seen the increased bike demand play out different ways:
Sales are way up. “We can’t keep stuff in stock. As soon as we get a bike built, it’s out the door,” Fiyah said. “We don’t even have to sell bikes; people really are just taking everything we have. Usually people are like, ‘Does it come in any other colors?’ Now, they’re like, ‘I’ll take it.’”
The demand for bike repairs has tripled. “People have their old college bikes they haven’t ridden in five years sitting in their garage, and they’re bringing them out of the woodwork covered in cobwebs and two inches of dust,” Fiyah said. The Spoke Easy typically turns repairs around in a couple of days, and currently repairs are taking five to seven days because of the high demand. “We’re just busting our butts,” he said.
Used bikes are in high demand, too. The Spoke Easy consigns used bikes, and those have been flying out of the store, Fiyah said. (If you’ve got a bike you’re not riding, now might be a good time to cash it in.)
May isn’t typically the hottest month for bike sales, Fiyah said. The cycling season for avid cyclists starts in late February or early March, he said, and then he sees another peak again in July and August.
“That’s what we feel like we’re in now — a strong peak season,” he said.
At The Bike Gallery on Park Road, owner Andres Lizarazo is helping customers by appointment only and has had to reduce hours from the normal 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid too much contact between employees and customers.
Only one customer is allowed in the store at a time, and appointments are limited to 30 minutes.
Longer waits, longer lines: The high demand and limited bike shop capacity means bike owners looking for service are having to call around and wait in lines like they haven’t before.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, Dilworth resident Mike Rizer felt lucky he was able to get a quick fix done on his Orbea carbon bike at Charlotte Cycles.
He’d called two other bike shops, where he’d have to wait a week or more, but Charlotte Cycles was able to get him in quickly and do his repair in an hour while he waited outside in the fresh air.
Rizer’s riding schedule has picked up greatly since the stay-at-home order started, and he’s riding with friends about three times a week, so having a well-functioning bike seemed essential.
“It’s a really good thing, right?” Riser said of the big bike demand. “We’re trying to stay healthy, and people are getting around more.”
Reach managing editor Cristina Bolling at cristina@cltledger.com.
Graphics company prints signs of the times
David Perlman, co-owner of Action Graphics on Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte, has been through downturns before. A little over a decade ago, he did printing for homebuilders. That dried up in the last recession, so he found other lines of business. “You just have to find other products you can make,” he says.
Same this time: Museums don’t need brochures. Churches don’t need worship bulletins. Nature preserves aren’t ordering maps. Nonprofits aren’t even thinking about printed programs for fundraising dinners. Perlman says sales are off about 50%, and he had to furlough workers when business evaporated in March.
But he’s adapting. He’s made some signs for food take-out, with a restaurant’s phone number for people to call when they arrive in their car. This month, he sent out an email blast advertising A-frame sidewalk signs and outdoor banners that say “We are open!” He’s selling self-adhesive floor graphics that say “Wait Here” and “One Way Please” (with arrows). He’s envisioning demand for more disposable menus.
He’s even working on a freestanding, lightweight 6-foot-tall product for restaurants that can include a big menu and be moved from table to table, sort of like a dessert cart. No need for customers to touch it and spread germs.
And he’s excited about what he calls a “Covid totem pole” — suitable for lobbies and waiting areas — that can be used to remind people to wash hands and stay 6 feet apart:
“There will be things like that that we can create that will be valuable for a little while moving forward,” Perlman says.
With the help of a Paycheck Protection Program loan, he now has all 11 employees back at work. He thinks business should start trickling back soon.
“I’m an optimist,” he says. “I believe this is America’s finest hour.” —TM
Today’s supporting sponsors are Soni Brendle:
…and Neatbooks:
Is Gov. Cooper growing a mullet?
Watching Gov. Roy Cooper’s news conference on Thursday, we surely weren’t the only ones noting that his hair seemed to be getting long in the back. Sure enough, discussion soon ensued on Twitter, debating whether Cooper is growing a mullet. The governor replied on Friday morning, writing: “Appreciate North Carolinians being safe and flattening the curve even if it means getting a little shaggy. Yes, it’s been almost 2 months since my last haircut and it’s beginning to look like my college picture with more wrinkles. - RC”
In brief:
Big rezonings: City planning staff is recommending approval of two big rezoning petitions: Atrium Health’s proposed rezoning of 71 acres that contain its Carolinas Medical Center campus, and the city’s proposed rezoning of the former Eastland Mall site. Atrium’s rezoning would allow the healthcare system to expand. The city’s rezoning would allow the addition of a training facility and headquarters for the new Major League Soccer team. City Council public hearings are scheduled on both for Monday.
Mask investigation: The Observer sent 26 journalists to 75 stores in the Charlotte region this week and found at least some employees not wearing masks in more than half of the businesses. All customers wore masks in about 20% of the businesses. The state has recommended wearing face coverings when in public in situations where social distancing is not possible. (Observer)
New local data: Data released by Mecklenburg County of Friday show Hispanics now account for about 1/3 of local Covid cases, hospitalizations are steady and the share of people requiring hospitalization is falling. Full analysis in the Charlotte Ledger Covid-19 Data Room.
Getaway: The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia plans to reopen on Friday. (Greenbrier)
Mountain openings: The Blue Ridge Parkway and Grandfather Mountain reopened on Friday. (WSOC)
Religious lawsuit: Two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group sued Gov. Roy Cooper in federal court, saying the state’s restrictions on indoor worship are unconstitutional. “Those backing the lawsuit in Greenville federal court said the restrictions violate the First Amendment and treat churches differently from retailers and other secular activities.” Cooper’s order bans indoor religious gatherings of more than 10 people. (WFAE/AP)
Pricey bank name: Truist, the bank formed by the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, spent $7M on creating the name and related branding, it said in a court filing. Additionally, it spent “$4 million to have the name approved by shareholders and regulators, $40 million to change operating systems so the bank could use the name on the merger date in December and $75 million in marketing expenses and ‘community support.’” Truist was sued last year by Truliant Federal Credit Union, which claims the name “Truist” is too similar and infringes on Truliant’s trademarks. (Observer)
New farmers market: The Uptown Farmers Market opens this morning in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church on South Davidson Street. Charlotte on the Cheap has the rundown of all local farmers markets. (Charlotte on the Cheap)
Helping Charlotte music: The city’s music venues are getting creative to try to stay afloat with no in-person events. Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa is selling T-shirts and launched a GoFundMe page that has raised $36,000 in three days. Music Everywhere Charlotte is raising money to help musicians. (CharlotteFive, Charlotte Agenda)
What’s for dinner?
“Family meal deals at Charlotte restaurants” (Charlotte magazine)
“25+ CLT Family Meal Deals Under $50” (Scoop Charlotte)
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has a list of Charlotte restaurants open for take-out (CharlottesGotALot)
“Who’s open for indoor and outdoor dining in SC?” (Ledger)
Essential radio to start your day on the right note
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