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Sackville Street may be one of the steepest climbs in the downtown, but that’s not stopping new cycling shop Giant Bicycles Halifax from opening its doors next month.
Barry Misener, owner of Bicycles Plus in Bedford, will open the Giant-branded expansion on April 1. It’ll be situated at 5536 Sackville Street, in the red-brick building on the corner of Sackville and Dresden Row. There are some renovations photos up now on the store’s website.
According to “dreamer/builder/and owner” Misener, the new store will still be a locally-owned and operated business and not a “corporate store.” The original Bicycles Plus location will continue to operate on the Bedford Highway.
“Choosing the right the location and business partners are crucial to long term retail success,” Misener said in a press release sent out Wednesday night.
“This is a very exciting time for everyone involved. When this business was created 23 years ago, I never thought we’d have two locations under our belt, and be providing employment for over 20 bike-crazy enthusiasts.”
The 3,500 square foot bicycle retail and service spot will be the first exclusively Giant-branded store east of Montreal. Misener and his team have already been selling Giant bicycles and working with the company out in Bedford for the past 15 years.
The Taiwanese Giant Manufacturing Company Ltd. bills itself as the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, with an annual global revenue of close to $2 billion. It manufacturers on- and off-road bikes, as well as BMX bikes for men, women and youths.
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This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2016.
Wow. Prediction. BOTH locations will go under inside of 18 months as a result of this expansion move.
Why?
This is the ONLY bike shop in town that does not allow you to test ride their bikes. (Our “insurance won’t permit it…”. They expect you buy a bike based on riding around in a parking lot for 5 minutes beside their building while an employee looks on lethargically.
Seems every other bike shop in town is properly insured, BTW.
Not to mention they are staffed mainly by “roadies” who look down their noses at “regular” commuting or recreational cyclists and their less expensive rides. Not a great customer service feel in their existing store, at all.
In 11 years, I’ve tried to give them my bike business multiple times in their Bedford location(s) hoping something had changed. But they’ve completely turned me off each each time and I’ve bought new (expensive) bikes elsewhere on 3 different occasions.
Being associated with the Wal Mart of bikes (Giant) does not equate to increased sales. Good service does, and these guys do not provide it at their existing location, so I cannot imagine a sexy new store is going to change any of that.
And yet, they’ve managed to be in business for what, 25 years or so? Maybe it’s you, Justin.
After walking in and out of Bicycle’s Plus several times asking endless questions, I really appreciated the patience of B.M. and his staff. I’ve now bought a couple bikes over a few years and found the staff’s guidance on selecting the right bike “for me”and other bits, like a more comfortable seat to be excellent.
I wish the Bicycles Plus / Giant team the best of luck.