IRVINE, CA (BRAIN)—Irvine’s Sand Canyon Cyclery has a new owner and a new name: Irvine Bicycles.
Owner Jim Manton sold the three-and-a-half year old shop on July 1 to a local investor, said shop manager Josh Peters.
The business had been faltering due to financial problems related to the economy including reduced credit limits and suppliers requesting payments before they were due, Peters said.
When it looked as though the shop would close, a local business man, who did not want to be named, stepped in with the financial backing to keep it going.
“He didn’t want to see the bike shop and the people who worked in the shop leave the Irvine area,” Peters said. “He’s lived in Irvine for 35 years. He’s a strong part of the community and he didn’t want to see his local bike shop go away.”
With the change in ownership, Irvine Bicycles sells the same primary brands—Cannondale, Look and Felt—but has cut out some of the extras like spin classes and fit services, Peters said.
“We had a pretty good line up before and with the territory, there aren’t too many openings for new brands with Laguna Cyclery and Rock ‘N Road. I might add a couple brands not much room left for them in the store,” he said.
At the new shop, customers will notice improved service from the staff and quicker turnaround on special orders, Peters said.
Manton is subleasing space in the shop to continue his professional fitting under a new business called Final Bike Fit.
—Nicole Formosa
