Ray’s Bike Shop is doubling down on Midland.
The bike shop, with locations in Midland, Bay City, and Clare, has been serving the Tri-Cities for more than 32 years. A prolonged period of growth has convinced the local bicycle shop that it’s time to open a second location in Midland.
Complementing the Downtown Midland location will be a new store on Eastman Avenue, conveniently located directly across from an entrance to the trail at Midland City Forest, which is not a coincidence.
"It’s the right building in the right location. All the cards fell in line," says Ray’s Bike Shop Downtown Service Manager Jeff Simpson. "To start at the base of the trail, it’s a dream scenario for us."
"We’re sticking our neck out a bit, but it’s worth the risk. We’re pretty confident."
With it being located across from the forest trail system, the company will move the majority of its mountain and trail bikes inventory to the new location. The original downtown location will see a bigger emphasis put on road and family bikes.
Each will offer full-service bike repair.
Simpson estimates the new shop to be about three times the size of the downtown location, allowing the company to add even more inventory and amenities.
They’ll begin carrying the Trek brand of bicycles. An overhead door large enough to drive a car through will allow customers to drive into the service bay, where workers can then attach bike racks to vehicles as customers seek to equip their vehicles.
The new location will also feature a lounge for bikers, runners, and walkers, complete with fresh coffee, bike races on television, and an adjacent shower.
Simpson says that they want the new store to become a community hub, a place where people want to come and hang out, even if they’re not in the market to shop.
"There’s always untapped potential," Simpson says. "We want this to be a destination bike shop, like the ones you'll find in Austin and Boulder."
Ray’s Bike Shop is aiming to open its new location in time for Black Friday this November, though it could happen sooner. It will be located at 7814 Eastman Avenue in Midland.
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