Hopes of opening a second
Fraser Bicycle store have percolated for at least two years. But because the business is so much more than a showroom for bikes, finding the right staffing was crucial.
With that detail squared away -- mainly a manager who is a cycling pro and enthusiastic about the sport and anyone who wants to ride -- the 47-year-old business is opening its second store, this one in Canton. Owner Paul Rogers purchased the business in 1987.
The Canton location of Fraser Bicycle will be in a freestanding building at 6111 North Canton Center Road, north of Ford Road, a couple of miles away from IKEA. It will be closer to customers who come from the west. Fraser Bicycle draws cyclists from across the state and from surrounding Midwestern states and Canada.
No exact opening date has been set, but the manager of the Fraser location, Ron Schmid, says the target is December.
A major renovation of the 10,777-square-foot store is underway. Like the location in Fraser, a cycling lab will be part of the layout. The lab has training bikes, software, monitors and more that simulate riding conditions and provide important information.
The service side of the business will also play a big role in the Canton store.
"More and more the survival of independent bike shops depends on service," Schmid says. "The big box stores were killing us when it came to sales. So we have to differentiate ourselves with our service."
The new store, as does the Fraser location, will also be the site of clinics, workshops and seminars, such as one with a cardiologist next week.
There will be a showroom offering most brands found in Fraser. The Canton store will have a new feature that's being kept secret.
"It's gonna be really cool," says Schmid. "We are so excited."
Source: Ron Schmid, writer, Fraser Bicycle
Writer: Kim North Shine
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