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Booming bike shops, pop-up restaurants and stock market gains.
Local bike shops are seeing an influx in new bike or repair orders as many people either avoid mass transit or have more time because of social distancing.
Noel Kegel, president of Franklin-based Wheel and Sprocket, said his company is seeing significant growth so far this March compared to last March. The company’s repair workshop is also full with bikes “sort of stacking up.”
With fitness clubs closing, biking provides a nice alternative as weather gets warmer in March.
While business “naturally gets busy this time of year anyways,” Kegel noticed an uptick in people coming in — especially young families — who have more time to bike.
Kegel has heard about biking also being a part of online physical education classes.
“When you’re riding a bike, it’s hard to be less than six feet away from somebody else,” Kegel said.
Fyxation, a bike store in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, partially relies on selling bikes to stores across the country. As people avoid mass transit in Philadelphia, orders for Fyxation have spiked.
“They’re selling through quite a bit,” said Nick Ginster, president and cofounder of Fyxation. “There’s a lot more mass transit out there, and people are shifting from mass transit to bicycles.”
Other markets, like Chicago, have not been ordering as heavily, though, as stores take a “wait-and-see” approach.
At the same time, Ginster said fewer people have been buying other products in the store, though.
“It’s a different type of customer coming in,” Ginster said.
The increase in repairs and new bike sales are not solely a result of coronavirus concerns. Weather has been more favorable this March compared to last March.
The average high so far in Milwaukee this month is 46 degrees, per the National Weather Service. Last year, it was 41 degrees.
“As the weather warms, we always see a nice uptick in business,” Kegel said.
Shops are still exercising caution in stores, though, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
Fyxation is doing curbside service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. After someone drops off a bike, Fyxation disinfects it, evaluates it and calls the customer with an estimate. Payments are online as well.
“We have the bike waiting for them outside, so they don’t need to come in the store at all,” Ginster said. “It’s good for our employees, and I think our customers really appreciate it as well.”
Wheel and Sprocket is not offering test rides and closed its fitting rooms while ramping up cleaning and sanitation procedures across its stores.
Fyxation will stay open as long as it’s safe and legal to do so, Ginster said. Similarly, Kegel said he’s looking to stay open “as long as we reasonably can.”
“We feel an obligation to our community, but also to our staff, to be around,” Kegel said.