Another West Seattle-to-White Center move: Aaron’s Bicycle Repair

| Transportation | West Seattle news | White Center

First Zippy’s – then Meander’s – now, Aaron’s … Another business is moving from West Seattle to White Center. Just out of the WSB inbox, from Aaron’s Bicycle Repair proprietor Aaron Goss:

Aaron’s Bicycle Repair, Inc. says thank you and goodbye to Morgan Junction and West Seattle proper.

However, they are only moving 3 miles away to White Center!

This is very exciting news for White Center and we have been welcomed with open arms by the community.

For several years, Dubsea Bikes, a non-profit bicycle repair and ride group, has been lobbying for a bike shop in Rat City.

Starting February 1st, 2013 that will be a reality!

The bike shop will be located in the White Center Square, anchored by Hung Long Asian Market.

The new address is 9988 15th Ave. SW, Suite E.

Phone, e-mail and web will remain the same. Look for updates on the shop’s website soon. www.RideYourBike.com.

Manager Gregg Sundin said the economic downturn and increasing online sales forced the decision to downsize. The shop will re-focus on bicycle repair and service but will still sell bikes, parts and accessories.

Also offered will be community-building events like Full Moon rides, Free Flat Tuesdays and hosting Dubsea Bikes repair parties.

Here’s a map to the future Aaron’s location. The space the store is leaving was the Morgan Junction state liquor store until four years ago, when the state closed it, and the bike shop moved in from another space nearby.

CEA December 4, 2012 (8:59 pm)

Fantastic bike shop…and although I understand the rationale behind the move, I sure wish they could stay put. However, I’ll make the trip to visit them!

Ben December 4, 2012 (9:03 pm)

More space in the Morgan Junction for vitamin and cell phone stores. Grumble.
.
When oh when will Morgan Junction get a decent burger, taco or sandwich place? (Sub Shop No. 9 and Subway don’t qualify.) Every time a space vacates, I hope it will be filled by one of those, but nope.

DF December 4, 2012 (9:57 pm)

I will make the trip to visit them and continue to support Aaron’s bike shop. I recall when the liquor store was across the street on the very eastern side of the huge lot of the Thriftway stores. Way back . . . . Ride your bike

Jenn December 4, 2012 (10:00 pm)

Why the exodus from Seattle city limits? Taxes? Rent? Combination?

GoodforYouWC December 4, 2012 (10:39 pm)

Oh that is going to make a few people giddy! I wish Aaron the best of luck.

If other business folks are out looking for White Center space to lease, the big space next door to Proletariat Pizza is vacant. Dzul Tattoo moved to Belltown.

Carpe diem.

DM December 4, 2012 (10:54 pm)

May be a drastic distance for some, but it’s much closer to me now. Get your bike tuned up, do some grocery shopping at Hung Long, and grab a burger at Zippy’s! Yay! I don’t consider “two blocks south of Roxbury” as “not West Seattle”.

An December 4, 2012 (10:54 pm)

There are probably many reasons that played a role in the move. But retail rent prices are increasing to a level that makes it difficult for local, small business to pencil out. Can only assume the per sf rent price in White Center is significantly lower. Taxes (which building owners transfer to the tenants) are probably quite a bit lower as well.

rob December 4, 2012 (11:38 pm)

@DM you forgot to get a beer at BigAl’s.

WTF December 5, 2012 (12:00 am)

Good for you A, for finally making the move! Congrats on your new space. Three miles south. Five miles north. Two block west. 800 yards east. Doesn’t matter. When you find a bike shop that knows what they’re doing, it’s well worth the trip N S E or W.
Happy New Year.
See you at the Bev’ er’ age!

coffee December 5, 2012 (5:53 am)

I would agree, rent and taxes are killing the small business owners. Plus the whole on line thing, everyone seems to want to go in and shop and then run home to find the lowest price with free shipping on line. My business is considering moving out of the city limits when our lease is up. We don’t want to do it, but the rent is half in some cases and the landlords are giving all kinds of incentives for moves. Plus the tax issue. I wish them luck in the new location!

ugh December 5, 2012 (10:12 am)

I hope this doesn’t mean White Center will be overrun with those “dead baby” bike folks as a result of this move. that’s enough to kill a good neighborhood resurgence.

WSB December 5, 2012 (11:03 am)

Have you seen them overrunning Morgan Junction? I drive by the current shop site six times a day most days and haven’t noticed anything unusual. Except for the day of the naked bike ride, perhaps … but that’s been a few years.

whitecenterlove December 5, 2012 (11:58 am)

This is so exciting! So glad to see our little neighborhood bringing in new businesses! White Center is full of awesome new and new-ish businesses now: Zippy’s, Full Tilt, Proletariat Pizza, Company Bar, Big Al Brewing, Uncle Mike’s BBQ, Luso’s Food and Wine, The Live Butcher, and of course Meander’s Kitchen! Cafe Rozella and The Triangle aren’t quite as new but great also! Welcome to the neighborhood!

BlairJ December 5, 2012 (12:14 pm)

WC’s where it’s at, baby!

Service Dog Academy December 5, 2012 (2:24 pm)

Had I not had the forethought to put a clause in my first lease limiting my landlords ability to raise my rent, I too would be considering a move to White Center. Rent for small businesses is becoming astronomical.

nighthawk December 5, 2012 (6:29 pm)

What the heck are the “dead baby” bike people?

Aaron Goss December 5, 2012 (7:22 pm)

Dead Baby Bikes is a pretend outlaw bike club. They look almost as scary as a motorcycle club. Really more of a drinking club with a biking problem. Mostly IT guys that act tough on bikes. In Rat City we have the Rat City Royals, a drinking club with a chess problem. They can often be seen at Company bar. But everyone knows Backgammon rules!

Aaron Goss December 5, 2012 (7:25 pm)

Hey Service Dog Academy folks. Glad you got good rent there. I looked at your space about 8 years back. It was just a shell, without even a bathroom. It sat vacant for over 10 years! Glad they finally built it out and rented it to you. Dogs and bikes rule! I was wise this time and got an extension with the same low rent. The Hung Long Market folks own the entire White Center Square. I highly recommend all the businesses there.

ohm13 December 5, 2012 (7:55 pm)

hopefully for Aaron white center has lots of people who enjoy being talked down to about something as simple as a bike. good riddance I say.

wsbikr December 5, 2012 (9:19 pm)

I am astounded to read that Aaron is taking over the dubsea bike repairs. I have volunteered to help with the free bike repairs and I know that Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike has been promoting a non profit bike shop called dubsea bikes for going on 2 years. That man plants seeds and gives up his free time all over West Seattle. I see him on his bicycle everywhere. His mechanical expertise as well as his community devotion is unsurpassed as I have found out working beside him. He also treats people nice.

brittlestar December 5, 2012 (10:28 pm)

Is Aaron actually involved with Dubsea Bikes? That would be new information.

whitecenterlove December 6, 2012 (11:54 am)

Hi Aaron, I’m very familiar with Rat City Royals at Company bar! I don’t make it on Monday nights as often as I’d like, but I’m sure we’ll eventually run into each other! Thank you for the explanation.

Aaron Goss December 6, 2012 (5:18 pm)

I volunteer with Dubsea bikes and the instigator, Ellie is our customer! Ellie has wanted me to move to WC for some time now. I was simply offering my new shop for her FREE BIKE REPAIR PARTIES on a Sunday once every couple of months!

I love giving back to the community. I volunteer at the Senior Center, I was on the board of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and I often fix bikes for very little money for homeless or down-on-their-luck folks. I do that everyday in my shop. People that cannot afford a car usually use a bike, so bike shops see a higher percentage of lower-income folks. I help them out if I can.

Back when the West Seattle Green Bike Program was attempted, I took those bikes into my shop and fixed them up. For free. You can see a picture of me working on one on my shop’s FB page.