Well, after reading some of the reviews both good and bad, I 'took it with a grain of salt' so to speak. Having been in the home remolding business for 20 plus years, it been my observation that many customers are overly picky, and have unrealistic unachievable standards of perfection when it come to other people doing work or providing them a service and thus more often than not, prone to exert effort in complaining, and exert no effort when they they are satisfied with the service.
So, on that note here is my review.
The shop itself is rather small and unassuming a typical mom and pop operation no plus or minus, its proximity to a light rail stop puts it within very easy riding distance, a big plus for me. upon riding up to the store I was very pleased to see a bike rack right in front, which is often over looked by other bike stores Ive been to, though it looked beat up its another big plus for me.
The interior is poorly illuminated and at first I thought it might be closed (A couple of 13watt Compact Florescent Bulb's from the dollar store would work wonders, if over head is a issue). The layout is poor, the first thing you see when you enter is a grimy tune up/repair area, which in my opinion should be tucked away in one of the back corners, but thats where the customer service counter is. Even though I understand ""dirty"" work, it seems backwards in my opinion, even in something like a full service garage, though greasy grimy work is the main service provided, you dont have customers strolling threw the grease pit, to get to the service/parts counter, it just sets up a bad first impression, customers aren't there to work.
Though I didnt spend anytime looking at the bikes that where for sale they did appear to have a small but good selection. However I did notice right off the bat, that the place had several ""real world"" dirty banged up MTB's here, there and everywhere, which again in my opinion is fine for OUT in the ""real world"", but are a eye sore and deter from the shiny new bikes, and again sets up a bad impression, you just dont park a dirt clod next to anything your trying to sell.
There appears to be a lack of understanding in first impressions, and how the division of ""real world"" grimy and dirty and the customer service/sales world of bright shiny and clean effects sales. I felt hesitant to spend my money there, and thankful I was wearing work cloths, however, having ""grease pit"" experience, I put that aside and by observation the place had a good variety of parts and tools, the service was satisfactory and their prices on comparative parts/tools I know of where reasonable.
If your looking to participate in the Tour De France this is not the store for you, if you your looking for affordable budget minded DIY parts, tools, variety and a better quality that you cant find and or get at a department store, or time limited and want a local store then this is the place. Over all I would recommend the store, but it wouldn't be a first choice recommendation (Performance Bikes near Sunrise and Madison is #1 in my book) and though the shop might not be dirty per se, it gives off a grimy impression and I wouldn't wear anything that your worried about getting dirty. I also recommend the store staff re evaluate their layout, lighting and improve upon first impressions.
more