(Photos © J. Maus)
The bike parking facility we told you about last month and that first appeared mysteriously back in 2009, is just a few days from officially opening.
The ‘Portland Bike Station’ (not to be confused with Bikestation) is in the ground floor of the Dekum Building at SW 3rd and Washington downtown. The facility is being run by the Full Holy Ghost Ministry, which has its headquarters on Killingsworth Street in North Portland. Bishop Kenneth Sims, whom I met today, says he looks forward to providing a full suite of amenities for downtown bike riders.
Expected to open on Monday, Bishop Sims says customers will find secure bike parking, accessories to purchase, changing rooms, a full-service repair shop, and eventually showers. The space isn’t completely built out yet, but Sims and other members of his congregation are busy working out the final details.
Bishop Sims is well aware that the ‘Bike Station’ name might get him into some legal trouble with Mobis Transportation Alternatives, Inc, the corporate arm of the well-known Bikestation franchise; but for now, he’s moving forward.
“We’ve been working on this since 2009,” he told me today, “we had ‘Bike Station’ in the window. If anyone wants to talk to me about it, they could have contacted me by now.”
The logo features a vintage trike.
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The interior is still being worked on.
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How does a small church in North Portland come to open a bike parking business downtown? “The Lord made all this happen,” the Bishop says with a smile, “It would be impossible to tell you how it all came together… Our CEO is the Holy Ghost.”
The inside of the space, and Sims’ charm, combine to make this operation feel like a small neighborhood bike shop — that just happens to be in a high-rent location. Sims says he’s still looking for help. He wants to know what bike commuters want and there’s a link to a short survey posted on the window.
If you’re in the neighborhood, poke your head in and say hi. As the business evolves, Portland Bike Station could become an important community resource right in the heart of Portland.
Thanks for reading.
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Thanks for the article and clarification Jonathan! Good luck to Bishop Sims and the business. The more resources and facilities for downtown commuters, the better. Somebody (his wife?) was very friendly when I walked by with my bike today. I’ve worked downtown for years, and I think that if Bikestation ever comes through and opens a franchise in downtown Portland, it would be great to have more than one commuter-bike facility downtown.
Nether I or my bike want to be blessed if we stop in there. The only church I belong to is The Church of Stop Shopping.
http://www.revbilly.com/
There probably won’t be any blessings going on, just like I would not expect any religious theory from someone who happens to be agnostic – while in a bike shop, anyway. But I suppose anything is possible.
To clarify, Bikestation has communicated our position on the use of our trademark to both the property owner and the property leasing agent. We now will include Mr. Sims in this communication.
Todd Boulanger
Bikestation
I’m assuming, since you aren’t stating it, that “your position” is that he shouldn’t use the name. Lighten up.
^^^ well that’s pretty unfortunate.
‘Full Holy Ghost Ministry’ : my new favorite word name. Makes me want to start a jam band.
So rad to see this going into the most beautiful old building in Portland: http://tinyurl.com/3hdzvhr
Would Bishop Sims be open to taking suggestions from the cycling community for a new (not to mention better) name for this establishment? Bike Station isn’t a very inspired choice.
Agreed. How about the Holy Roller Sanctuary 🙂 or This Is A Local Business And Bikestation Is Not
I just wanted to share a good review with everyone. My boyfriend and I wandered in there one night a few weeks ago while Bishop Sims was working on the space. Even though he wasn’t open yet he offered to stay there and let us park our bikes while we watched a movie that wouldn’t end until after midnight. Neither of us is at all religious, but we are open-minded and enjoy meeting kind, friendly people. Bishop Sims is one of the nicest people I’ve met in a long while. When you stop in be sure to give yourself some extra time to chat with him.
Promoting a non-profit with sales of merchandise or premiums in exchange for donations is standard practice…by operating as a religous not for profit, a free speech issue arises…presumably setting a “church” (Bike Station “Mission” {Collective, Grotto, etc.} ) apart from a strictly for profit BikeStation business. I can open a cafe’ called “Lo-Phat Cycles and Coffee” as long as i don’t sell clothing with the trademarked “phat”… from the “Phat Farm Clothing” line….non conflicting business types share names all the time….Cascade this or that, Pioneer, Valley, Northwest…i worked at Moonlight Messenger about the time Moonlight cigarettes appeared on the market…as long as we weren’t delivering smokes….
I am DELIGHTED to see African American owners in a bike business. We need lots more diversity in Portland’s bike world.
Best of luck.
Bill:
Portland will look good showing true home grown diversity in the down town area the village need to support Portland Bike Station
I think Bike Mecca would be a good name.
I hope the space that is “still being worked on” will eventually contain full sized staples or wall racks to lock to. Those low mini staples are not secure. Anything that doesn’t allow you to lock both wheels and frame is not secure, and removing wheels is an extra hassle a place like this should be helping people avoid.
Those low racks are actually black plastic piping. Not very secure nor stable IMHO.
Please note:
– the shop will be staffed during open hours (i.e., when someone would park their bike there), and
– the staff are looking into adding more and different types of racks.
I second Bill Stites’ call for a more diverse Portland bike industry. May this enterprise flourish and inspire others!
The Portland Bike Station and Bishop Sims are both worthy of special commendation for braving the Trail many African American have dared to not tread. I like the idea of having a bike worked on and ready for you once you returned after a long days work, bike riding is where we all may be able to grow spiritually and emotionally crossing over more than just physical bridges. I will support the first Down town minority bike storage, rental and repair shop in down town Portland, I enjoyed the chat with Bishop Sims and the cool refreshing drinks that he had on had. the space is just great for storing your bike feeling security while one stroll to special events or shop or have that special meeting, store your bike with Portland Bike Station
William Vancouver bike development meeting
July 27th
7:00-8:30 pm
Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Room 1077 (Main Entrance)
Light snacks provided
Portland Bureau of Transportation
Michelle Poyourow
Poyourow Consulting
Portland, Ore.
poyourowconsulting@gmail.com
(503) 841-3122
Did you know that the Portland Bike Shop can have your bike detailed by the end of the day from handle bars to back tire and fender?
Too bad about Mr. Naito aka Mr. Grinch killing off the Portland bike statipn.