It’s been a great ride for 33 years
I have been self-employed for most of my working years. I always believed that if I work for myself I would have the ability to determine my future and my earnings.
About 33 years ago I was in search of something different. I had been doing home carpet cleaning for 10 years and I was due for something new.
I had purchased a building with a storefront, occupied by a convenience store that had video games that were on the decline.
It was a late afternoon in the fall of 1984. I walked into a local hardware store that I regularly frequented to make a small purchase and noticed new staff people working the store. I went to purchase my items and the owner, and cashier, informed me that the new staff were not his; they were from the bank, there to shut him down at the end of the day due to not meeting his financial obligations.
He told me that the bicycle section of the store was not part of the hardware business. It was operated independently by his son, but since it occupied the same space the bank was going to confiscate that just as well.
He informed me that I could purchase all of his stock and tools in the bike section but everything had to be out within three hours. I decided right then that I was going to be a bicycle store operator.
I went out, rented a truck, went back and loaded everything into the truck with 10 minutes to spare.
It took several months to vacate the video games and remodel the shop to make it a bicycle retail and repair shop. I hired the same mechanic from the hardware store to help me set up and he stayed with me for several years, and we are still good friends to this day.
A short time later, the mountain bike era began. It was a new fun bike and everyone wanted one.
We quickly expanded from a small 500-square-foot space to a 3,000-square-foot store which we still have today.
The last 33 years have been lots of fun. I’ve made many friends, helped many people and improved their lives, and promoted a healthy lifestyle.
We introduced bike patrol to Sandwich Towne, and later expanded downtown as well as introduced bike patrol to the University of Windsor and Town of LaSalle.
We have done many community events, such as free bike safety rodeos for kids, participated in the Lung ’s Association rides for many years and the I Can Bike program.
These last 33 years have gone by very fast. The family and I have taken many trips south of the border and not seen much of our own country. Once retired, we will be taking a trip to eastern coast of Canada and later perhaps the rest of Canada.
As for Courtesy Bicycles, this may be the end for me but I am looking forward to see what’s in store for whoever may take over everything that I’ve built.