The Bike Commuter, a neighborhood bike shop that has served the Sellwood area since 2010, is closing its doors.
The Bike Commuter was a family-friendly, neighborhood bike shop owned by Eric and Naihma Deady. When it opened in January 2010, the shop was located at SE 13th and Umatilla on the main bikeway that took people from the Springwater on the Willamette to the Springwater Corridor.
10 months after opening, the shop moved a few doors down. Then in the summer of 2014, they made a major move into a much larger space at SE Clatsop and 17th. Along with more space the Deady’s aimed to make the store a “cycle lounge” with beer, music and community events.
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Eric Deady posted news about the closing to the shop’s Facebook page on January 2nd. Reached via email, Deady told me he’s simply ready for a new adventure. “I’m closing mostly because I just have itchy feet,” he wrote. “I don’t want to stagnate, or get too settled in my career. I’m ready to see what else is out there for me. I’ll miss the people, and ‘my sanctuary’, but I’m ready for a change!”
Deady plans to take a few months off and see where he ends up, which might — or might not — be in the bike industry.
But before then, there’s a sale to be had. The Bike Commuter will be open for another month or so until all remaining inventory is gone. Everything in the store is 50 percent off, and pints of local beers are $3 “until the kegs are gone!”.
The closing of The Bike Commuter leaves Sellwood Cycle Repair (7953 SE 13th) as the only remaining shop in the area.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Shame! I like that place. best of luck to Eric and Naihma.
Wishing you happiness and success in whatever comes next, Eric!
Noooooo…This is/was my favorite neighborhood bike shop. I always received super customer service from Eric and his crew. Broken axle – no problem. Funky fenders for the kiddo’s bike – no problem. Christmas presents (to me, from me)- they got ’em. Service without attitude. They will be missed. Best of luck!
First Bike n Hike, now Bike Commuter. The corridor between downtown and Clackamas Co. is now barren of bike shops between Sellwood Cycles and First City Cycles in Oregon City.
There’s still Bike Gallery Clackamas:
http://www.bikegallery.com/about/clackamas-pg65.htm
I was thinking specifically of the commuting corridor along Highway 99E, and Bike Gallery is several miles east of there, but Bike Gallery is a good shop.
Major bummer! (for me) After getting to know the owners and their personalities, I’m not surprised they are moving on to the Next Adventure! Cheers to your future!
Yea, nice guy, very helpful and LOVES bikes. I wonder how much the glut of bike shops in Portland has to do with the closure.
if they were well off financially they would have sold the shop instead of liquidating it… either Sellwood Cycle Supply is taking their business or there isn’t enough business in general to sustain it…
personally I thought this one was going to be around forever…
Sellwood cycle are good guys and do a lot of business. I have been doing business with them since Steve had his shop on Tacoma St.
Sad to see them go along with the other bike shops closing lately in Washington County.
This type of shop is on my bucket list to own. There are several bike friendly coffee shops and bike friendly breweries where I live, but not many are combining all three. Just like any other bike shop, I’m certain it would be a labour of love.
It was a nice shop, I only visited once because I am in Beaverton but I recommended it a few times.
My first thought was why don’t they attempt to sell the business. Spiffy says “if they were well off financially they would have sold the shop instead of liquidating it… “.
I’m not quite grasping what you mean. Are you saying that they are underwater and if even if they sold the business, it would not cover the business’s debts?
I think what he meant was that if it was a solid business, it would be better to sell it whole to another owner than to liquidate and close its doors.
Eric and his shop have been big supporters of bike related activities in Milwaukie for a number of years. Their help with the annual Kids Bike Rodeo and other things will be missed down here.
Bike Commuter has always been the essence of Southeast Portland bike culture for me. I’m going to miss the shop raves and dropping in to shoot the bull with Eric and friends over a beer. I can’t wait to see what Eric and Neihma have planned next. If Bike Commuter is any indication, it will be memorable!
Bought my first bike at Cascade Cycling… they closed about 18 months later. My second bike was purchased from The Bike Commuter which is closing now… about 18 months later.
Suggestions for shops for my next bike?
The people at the Woodstock Bike Gallery have always done me right!
no….. no.. nononono NOOOO!!!!!!!!! I like Eric! He’s the only one there that SIGNS!!!! 🙁
Hows bout a cycle lounge featuring music and beers recent legal upgrade Of choice. It would be. . . . . Jaaaaahzzzz!