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Capitol Hill Bikes Liquidates for Store Closing

November 13th, 2009 by Sharee Lawler · 10 Comments · Barracks Row

(Logo courtesy of capitolhillbikes.com)

(Logo courtesy of capitolhillbikes.com)

Local institution, Capitol Hill Bikes, has lost its lease and will be closing its doors.  We are still working on getting the full story, but rumor has it the tax burden combined with the monthly lease have lead to the loss of this well-known and respected business.  According to the the notice that went out to their email list, they will be looking for a new location.

Julia Christian, Executive Director of CHAMPS, a Chamber of Commerce on Capitol Hill, had this to say:  ”I’m saddened by the loss of Capitol Hill Bikes, a business that has served this community for so long.  Capitol Hill Bikes was one of the first businesses to open on 8th Street as the Main Street redevelopment began.  CHAMPS stands ready to assist owners Denise D’Amour and Laurie Morin in locating a new space on the Hill. The struggle for retailers is something that we, as the Hill’s chamber of commerce, have been aggressively studying. As a member of the Capitol Hill Economic Development Roundtable, we are exploring the various tools and methods available to help ensure that Capitol Hill is a welcoming economic environment for retailers. This issue has become a top priority for us and one that we feel needs to be addressed immediately. The Capitol Hill Economic Development Roundtable, co-chaired by ANC 6B Chairman David Garrison and CHAMPS Board Member Chuck Burger, is comprised of representatives of each of the business and civic organizations in the 6B area – including the CHAMPS, Capitol Hill BID, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Market Row Association, US Navy/Navy Yard, EMCAC, Office of Councilmember Tommy Wells, and Barracks Row. The goal of this Roundtable is to explore all of the options and tools that are available to help shape our economic climate here on Capitol Hill and to find ways to ensure that our retailers, in particular, are able to sustain their businesses and provide the products and services that our community needs and wants.”

Check back for updates as we learn more about this story.

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  • Not so fast

    I think that the story about CHB being put upon by the landlord and city that is being sold here and elsewhere is a little misleading. If you’ve been in the shop in the past couple years, it was clear something was very wrong with the business. They had no inventory, huge backlogs on service, and a constantly shifting staff. I don’t know what ultimately was the problem, but I can tell you that they were NOT running a tight ship over there. Much of their business followed their 4 ex-managers to other shops. So while attacking the city and rallying the troops to their support is grand, I don’t think they are the businesspeople to carry out a bike-shop business model. The parts are all there but they failed to execute. I’m not that sad to see them go. I hope another shop with competent management opens in the same location. I’d go and spend freely.

  • Sharee Lawler

    I’m not one to pile on, especially a good neighbor like CHB. But I’m also not going to disagree with you. I’ve felt some frustration with CHB’s operational approach for some time. However, what I want to find out here is whether rents and taxes are combining to make it difficult for ALL retailers in the neighborhood. If only restaurants and national retail chains are the only stores that can manage the rents and taxes in our neighborhood, that is a problem for all of us because it will dramatically reduce our already paltry retail options.

  • Not so fast

    I agree with your point about rent/taxes. I just don’t think that CHB should be the posterchild. That’s all. I’m all for good quality retail that brings people out during the day–rather than the Adams Morgan model.

  • Ben

    CHB sucked. The manager Bernie destroyed it. I know people that work there and they all say that it was a good shop before Bernie. The owner ran out of money because they sunk all the profits into their gift shop that they relocated to adams morgan. Just be happy it’s dead and someone else will move in to make it work.

  • Tippi

    This is Bernie’s wife and I would like to say that Ben’s comment is irresponsible, unsupportable, and intentionally inflammatory. While B certainly isn’t perfect, neither are any of us. The owners of the bike shop hired my husband based on his qualifications and were involved in the management of their own business from start to finish. If they were unsatisfied with the result at any time they could have corrected the situation as he was not under contract. I would appreciate it, Ben, if you would refrain from making additional slanderous comments in the future.

  • John

    I have bought several bikes there in the last few years. The service has always been great. Before I got 5 feet in the door someone would greet me and ask what the problem with the bike was and then immediately fix it for free. Service doesn’t get any better than that. The store failed due to lack of parking on Barracks Row.

  • Mike

    Even when I first moved here ten years ago I always got arrogant attitude and generally bad service form the employees. I don’t own a car but found that I would rather rent a car to drive my bike to a shop across town than use this shop. Occasionally I’d grudgingly be tempted back merely out of convenience only to be reminded of why I tried not to use this shop. Perhaps now their demise will allow a new bike shop to locate on the Hill. There’s certainly demand and maybe they’ll have good customer service and bike techs to boot.

  • http://www.twitter.com/fisherdm fisherdm

    I purchased about $1,000 worth of gear there in the last two years, and spent another $100 or so on maintenance. The business failed because it didn’t recognize that customers like me are willing to spend a little more to support a local business, but expect to develop a relationship with the people who work there. Hiring cycling elitists who are too busy to come out from behind the counter to assist you as you look around is not the way to foster customer loyalty. Nor is the completely non-sensical system of dropping off your bike for maintenance: I shouldn’t have to wait 45 minutes in line just to fill out a service form and then drop my bike off.

    Eventually, I just started driving to Clarendon and gave my business to the shop across the street from the Whole Foods. Friendly, helpful staff and efficient maintenance department: no-brainer!

    This business failed because it was run poorly and the staff treated customers like they could live without their business. Obviously, that wasn’t the case.

  • Marybindc

    Wow, I thought it was just me that didn’t like or trust the service there. fisherdm’s post was exactly my experience there too.

  • M. Van Dorn

    CHB closed due to poor management; unfortunately, the owners were not retail, business or bike savvy. My ex worked at CHB as repair shop manager and he was continually frustrated because he could not fulfill promised orders because the owners were so far behind in their payments to vendors. The employees worked very hard, but many left because they could see that the business was shaky. So many employees and managers left that the store was eventually left very short-handed. The bike community is small and I am sure it was very hard to get qualified people to work there, once things went downhill. The managers could not order more stock because money was owed everywhere. The owners stopped the employees’ direct deposit without informing them–meaning that bills that employees thought were covered were not. Health insurance was discontinued without the employees knowledge. My ex had an appointment and was dismayed to discover that he had to pay the full bill–he had no idea he was no longer covered. It appeared that funds were siphoned off to support the other businesses that Ms D’Amour owned (Hoopla in Adams Morgan). I think it is a shame for a business to close in an area that is revitalizing, but I have no doubt a better business will move in; hopefully a really good, well-run bike store (like Revolution or Spokes).