DETROIT, MI (BRAIN)—Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop and Detroit Bikes have partnered to open a retail residency in collaboration with Eastern Market Corp.'s Thanksgiving market. The bicycle boutique is housed in a shipping container located in Shed 4 of Detroit’s Eastern Market shopping district.
The collaboration between Wheelhouse Detroit and the city’s singular bicycle manufacturer will focus on quality American-made products. The boutique is open Friday through Monday through the winter, and will also provide drop-off repair service and bicycle rentals.
"We are excited to extend the cycling season with this unique collaboration between a retailer, a manufacturer and a neighborhood development agency," said Wheelhouse co-owner Karen Gage. "Eastern Market is the perfect place to showcase the best in American-made and locally sourced bikes and bicycle products."
Detroit Bikes’ A-Type commuter bike is front and center in the boutique’s offerings. The minimalist bike, manufactured and assembled in Detroit Bikes’ factory in west Detroit, features a lightweight chromoly steel frame and a three-speed internal rear hub. The A-Type is available in one frame size meant to fit a range of riders between 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-2. It retails for $550.
The Eastern Market boutique will also offer a special “A+” model that includes American-made lights, lock, kickstand, bottle cage and bell for the customer who wants to purchase a complete bike. The A+ will retail for $700.
Detroit Bikes began production in its 50,000-square-foot factory in August, and has added a number of retailers to its dealer base over the past three months.
“We needed a retail storefront of some kind throughout the winter,” said Zakary Pashak, owner of Detroit Bikes. “This is, for now, a semi-permanent space, but it suits our needs perfectly. We are looking forward to working with Wheelhouse Detroit to show our bikes off to holiday shoppers throughout the season.”
An expanded story about Detroit Bikes will appear in the Jan. 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer.
