No one could have guessed that Campus WheelWorks would ever vacate its long-term Elmwood Avenue location, especially after it expanded in 2022.
Bike shop owners Ethan Johnson and Alex Davies have opted to consolidate their operation into their new headquarters on Niagara Street. I suppose the decision to choose the Niagara Street location over Elmwood makes sense, due to the bike-friendly nature of Niagara Street.
When I spoke to Ethan Johnson about the new Niagara Street bike shop back in July of 2021, he told me that the cycle tracks on Niagara Street were a big factor that drew him to that “prime” location.
In a recent shoutout to customers, Campus WheelWorks stated, “Campus WheelWorks is moving exclusively to 1330 Niagara St, Buffalo, NY 14213 by the end of 2023. Turning our focus to the future, the newly renovated Campus Niagara location will continue to create career opportunities, consistent hours, and one-of-a-kind customer service within one central location. Our move will not be taken lightly as we hold The Elmwood Village dear to our hearts, but we are confident in this positive change. After the shared struggles of the past three years, operating two city stores is unsustainable.”
The only real upside to this is that the owners are leaving behind a newly expanded and updated shop location on Elmwood, which is a prime spot in the heart of the district. That said, it’s hard to imagine Elmwood Avenue without Campus WheelWorks. I can’t remember a time in my life when the shop was not there… it will certainly be missed.
Did you know that Campus WheelWorks is a spinoff from Clayton’s Toy Store that dates back to 1973?
While this is a sad day for Elmwood, I’m happy for Niagara Street – it deserves to have a business of this nature, servicing the boatload of cyclists that have come to depend on the convenience and safety of the new cycle tracks that have made Niagara Street a hub for bike enthusiasts.
Campus WheelWorks will remain open on Elmwood until the end of August.