Bike Store Openings and Closings

[Hancockbs]

@ursus 194591 wrote:

District Hardware and Bike which has been at the Wharf in DC the last two years will be closed permanently after today. https://wtop.com/dc/2019/11/after-48-years-in-dc-district-hardware-and-bike-to-close-permanently/

Sad to say I guess I’m part of the reason. I ride by it most mornings and kept thinking I’d stop in one of these days, but never did. Now apparently I never will.

[ursus]

@Hancockbs 194610 wrote:

Sad to say I guess I’m part of the reason. I ride by it most mornings and kept thinking I stop in one of these days, but never did. Now apparently I never will.

I was thinking about that also. I only live a few blocks away, and I think I have had coffee there just three times. To the best of my recollection I once bought two bike tubes and I once bought a wrench. For some reason which I don’t recall, I did not go there for the Hains Point 100 get-together early this year.

Then again, there seems to be a lot of turnover of businesses in the Wharf.

[Crickey7]

The rent had to have been ferocious. I used to patronize them at their old location. The wrenches were great about helping me get small parts that other bike shops couldn’t be bothered with, like master links/pins.

[Starduster]

@Crickey7 194616 wrote:

The rent had to have been ferocious. I used to patronize them at their old location. The wrenches were great about helping me get small parts that other bike shops couldn’t be bothered with, like master links/pins.

I’m sure rent was a factor, but a bigger factor for the hardware store side was parking. Most of the parking barons in downtown DC charge $21 a day for garage parking, but the Wharf garage charges up to $45 for special events (say, at The Anthem), for very limited capacity. Or you park at L’Enfant Plaza and take the shuttle. For local residents who needed things that required their vehicle to transport, that was a problem.

They did say that the Café made it possible to hang in longer than they might have otherwise. That’s a business model option for small independent bike shops who are trying to survive in a changing retail landscape.

[BTC_DC]

@ursus 194591 wrote:

District Hardware and Bike which has been at the Wharf in DC the last two years will be closed permanently after today. https://wtop.com/dc/2019/11/after-48-years-in-dc-district-hardware-and-bike-to-close-permanently/

I was extremely surprised when they first announced their move to the Wharf given their background being in Dupont (I think where Le Pain Quotidien is now) and then Foggy Bottom. Seemed quite ambitious, somewhat out of character given their previous shop and mechanics. They were great, especially with older bikes. For me, they basically disappeared with their move to the Wharf, but it sounds like it became a decent cafe for a while.

[lordofthemark]

It was my favorite place at the Wharf. I took my bike in for substantial repairs after it was damaged in my (keneinehara) only collision. I went a couple of times for coffee, but several times for happy hour or for an afternoon snack. I guess DC is not at a point where an (essentially) non driveable hardware store can make a go of it and a lot of their space was the hardware store. I wonder if they would have done better in NoVa (where Crystal City/Pentagon city lacks a bike shop, and I think a hardware store, and there are not too many cozy hangouts either) but they tried to stay DISTRICT hardware, I guess. I will miss it for sure.

[ReneeYvonne]

I went there a few times because I pass them on my way home to Anacostia. It would have been nice for them to move East of the River where there are ZERO bike shops or hardware stores and very few sit down cafes. I’ll miss them for sure.

[ursus]

@Starduster 194640 wrote:

I’m sure rent was a factor, but a bigger factor for the hardware store side was parking. Most of the parking barons in downtown DC charge $21 a day for garage parking, but the Wharf garage charges up to $45 for special events (say, at The Anthem), for very limited capacity. Or you park at L’Enfant Plaza and take the shuttle. For local residents who needed things that required their vehicle to transport, that was a problem.

They did say that the Café made it possible to hang in longer than they might have otherwise. That’s a business model option for small independent bike shops who are trying to survive in a changing retail landscape.

They apparently tried to do something about the parking https://www.districthardware.com/about/contact-us-pg59.htm.

Validated Parking Available

To make your experience better we now offer validated parking with purchase and complementary curbside loading. Validation is for 1 hour at a reduced rate of $2 instead of $10. It is offered with any $10 or larger purchase. Please utilize the 7th St. garage entrance.

[Hancockbs]

This is starting to sound like a eulogy, perhaps with good cause!

[Judd]

Sad news to hear of the closing of District Hardware. It was the site of several Third Thursday Happy Hours and the family that ran it are all great people that always treated us good.

[dbehrend]

I’m sad that the Bike Rack will be closing their Q St NW location today. I bought my current bike from them. I received excellent service over the years from their awesome staff.

They sent the following message today:

Thank You

After 13 amazing years Bike Rack is shutting it’s doors today.

Thank you everyone that has stepped foot in our store. Thank you everyone that has come on any of our rides. Thank you every single customer we have ever had. And thank you to all of our employees past end present for making the Bike Rack what it is.

If we have your bike in the shop we will be in contact.

[LhasaCM]

@dbehrend 194817 wrote:

I’m sad that the Bike Rack will be closing their Q St NW location today. I bought my current bike from them. I received excellent service over the years from their awesome staff.

They sent the following message today:

Thank You

After 13 amazing years Bike Rack is shutting it’s doors today.

Thank you everyone that has stepped foot in our store. Thank you everyone that has come on any of our rides. Thank you every single customer we have ever had. And thank you to all of our employees past end present for making the Bike Rack what it is.

If we have your bike in the shop we will be in contact.

Turns out that the location is remaining a bike shop, as a Conte’s store. https://www.contebikes.com/about/washington-dc-logan-circle-pg407.htm

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