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The storefront on NW 21st Avenue that had been occupied by Northwest Bicycles for 32 years has re-opened after a complete renovation.
The new shop is 21st Avenue Bicycles and about the only thing that remains of the old shop are veteran employees Jose Cano and Hugh Nixon.
I met Jose and Hugh when I visited Northwest Bicycles right before they closed last fall, so I thought it’d be neat to drop by and see how things are going.
The space is now much brighter and seems larger than before. Employee Brian Bilich says things are picking up now that word has spread and the sun is out. He says they see a lot of business from commuters and from PSU and PNCA students.
The shop — which has the same owner as Fat Tire Farm on NW Thurman — sells a mix of commuter, road, and comfort bikes from Kona, Specialized, and Electra.
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Store manager Kyle Von came over from Fat Tire Farm but he’s quick to point out that this new shop is much different in both focus and feel. I agree. Fat Tire Farm is a pro shop staffed by experts in high-end mountain bikes. If you brought in your beat-up commuter you might not feel the love.
In contrast, 21st Avenue Bicycles feels much more welcoming and definitely appeals to a much broader group of cyclists.
The address of the new shop is 916 NW 21st Avenue. Stop by next time you’re in the neighborhood and meet the crew…
Hugh Nixon, Peter Drake, Jose Cano.
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