(Photos © J. Maus)
Popular used bike shop The Recyclery is leaving their current home in a Quonset hut on the corner of SE Madison and SE 7th and opening up at two other bike-friendly locations in the coming weeks.
I caught up with shop owner Robby Fenstermaker at their Madison location (they also have a small store in downtown Portland on SW 11th) yesterday to learn more about what’s going on.
Fenstermaker said he loves the SE Madison location, but its cavernous ceilings were impossible to heat in Portland’s icy winters. I asked if increased rents or other financial issues forced the move. “No” he said “it’s just really cold”. But if he has it his way, Fenstermaker might maintain a presence at this location. He’s talking with the landlord in hopes of occupying the building in the back (southern end) of the lot. That area currently houses the shop’s storage and repair facilities.
Fenstermaker has wasted no time finding new digs. He’s set to open a new shop tomorrow on Ladds Circle (a former Videorama location at 1900 SE Ladd). That location has him smiling ear to ear because it’s right near one of the most highly trafficked bikeways in the city. (According to 2008 PBOT counts, the intersection of SE Ladd and Harrison had about 4,000 average daily bike trips).
The Recyclery has a 2.5-year lease at their new Ladds Circle location. Fenstermaker said that location — which is adjacent to quiet and calm bike boulevards — will also afford his customers a much nicer test-riding experience than they’ve had on SE Madison.
In addition to a new shop in Ladds, Fenstermaker has also signed a five-year lease on a space in St. Johns. Watch for The Recyclery to open up next door to the old Salvation Army headquarters on the 8400 block of N. Lombard street.
Fenstermaker says he’ll be completely out of the Madison location by the end of this month. The St. Johns location is scheduled to open next week.