The house owners of the bike store in Pontcanna thought ‘lengthy and exhausting’ about their choice to shut
A preferred Cardiff bike store is shutting its doorways after 20 years. John Higgins, one of many three founder house owners of The Bike Shed in Pontcanna mentioned it had been “an absolute pleasure” but it surely was time to cease. He mentioned the choice was not monetary however that the excessive road market was tighter now. The Bike Shed moved from its premises in Wyndham Crescent to its trademark premises with yellow signal on Cathedral Street reverse the Half Manner pub. It is a magnet for cyclists from throughout town in addition to passing commerce in close by Llandaff fields.
“We aren’t closing for monetary causes, “mentioned John, who launched the store together with his brother Martin Higgins and buddy Richard Lansdowne 20 years in the past.
“We’re a shiny bunch and have been in a position to climate the storm however it’s a pure conclusion. The retail trade is difficult and it’s tough to justify ongoing funding. We thought lengthy and exhausting about it as a gaggle and folks weren’t satisfied that investing more cash into a motorbike store was a wise factor to do.” By no means miss a Cardiff story by signing as much as our day by day e-newsletter right here
John mentioned: “Should you take The Bike Shed as an impartial enterprise it’s exhausting for a single enterprise to buck the development of the trade. We do not see a robust monetary future as an impartial retailer with one retailer.”
And though it might seem there are various extra cyclists on the street now, bike gross sales have fallen – partly as a result of some enterprise has gone on-line.
“For seven or eight years the bike trade was in decline after which Covid threw a lifeline as a result of it was one of many sports activities you can nonetheless do. However what then adopted was chaos as a result of producers over produced and pressured retailers to promote. The enjoyment and pleasure of the commerce vanished.”
Whereas that was the case on the wider stage John mentioned operating and dealing within the store and serving the area people had been a pleasure.
“Now we have made a extremely optimistic influence on biking in Cardiff. It’s a pretty store in Pontcanna which now we have liked operating. It has been an absolute pleasure.
“Now we have been going 20 years and made tons of buddies and bought stacks of individuals into biking.”
John mentioned the thought for the store got here from his brother who was a motorbike mechanic in addition to a eager bike owner. The wished a brand new enterprise after six years in Wyndham Crescent and when the chance got here to open in excessive profile premises on Cathedral Street they took it.
Within the time they’ve run the store he mentioned he has seen issues change quickly. Many of the bikes they now promote are e-bikes. However he worries for security with some folks constructing their very own dangerous e-bikes with components purchased on-line and with out the experience wanted.
“There ought to be extra regulation for e-bikes,” he mentioned.
The house owners haven’t any actual date for when The Bike Shed will shut its doorways for the final time, however there may be presently a closing down sale with bargains available.
