Adam Trost and Rebecca Erb, owners of The Bike Shop in East Aurora, are bringing their biking expertise to downtown Buffalo. The retail side of the Bike Shop @ The Hub is opening June 1. That will be followed this summer by an adjacent bicycle fitness center. They are a key tenant in Schneider Development’s Apartments at the Hub project located at 145-149 Swan Street. The balance of the ground floor commercial space will be occupied by HandleBar, a pub and café run by Sarah Schneider, owner of Merge restaurant, and Evan Thompson.
The retail bicycle and repair shop component will hold a soft opening with a reception June 1 after the SkyRide event. Trost and Erb are currently putting the finishing touches on their space.
“It’s coming along really well,” says Trost. “It’s starting to take shape.”
They are keeping their East Aurora location but putting a new twist to the downtown site. Though they will have something for all levels of bicycle enthusiasts, the downtown location will have a stronger focus on the athletic side of cycling.
“Downtown will have a different feel and flavor than East Aurora,” says Trost. “It is a different market than East Aurora which is skewed towards entry-level bicyclists, families, and kids. We will have that downtown but at The Hub we will cater to the road cyclist and athlete.”
Exclusive to Western New York, Bike Shop @ The Hub will have a bike fitting ReTul system that uses tools, technology and methodology to provide an accurate and comprehensive bike fit. An accurate biomechanical fit can make a big difference in alleviating back, knee or neck pain, and those adjustments will improve a rider’s performance.
“The ReTul system will allow us to provide the highest level of customer service and build bikes specific to a customer’s needs,” says Trost. “It is detailed down to the finest points and is beneficial to both casual cyclists and cycling athletes.”
They will be carrying several lines of bikes including Bianchi, BMC, SCOTT, Cinelli, and Ritte. Prices can range from $400 for a single-gear, “urban-type’ bike to $1,200 to $1,500 or more for a performance bike.
There will also be a full-service department offering repairs and bike tune-ups. A loft area will have accessories and apparel for sale (photos above).
Adjacent to the bike shop will be the Hub Fit Studio, an 1,800 sq.ft. bike-centered fitness facility that will be available to the public and building tenants (in the space photographed below). There will be spin cycles that can be reserved online, six indoor bike trainers that utilize your own bike, and weight and cardio equipment. Trost and Erb will explore adding classes once the facility opens in August or September after the building’s apartments are finished.
The downtown location will have three employees to start and Trost and Erb are excited to be part of The Hub project and the city’s renaissance.
“Jake Schneider came to up with his concept for a bicycle-themed project here,” says Trost. “With our love for cycling and Jake’s vision for the property, we believe it will be a good fit.”
Get Connected: The Bike Shop, 716.655.2916