Creative Loafing's Best Shop Dog is getting some new digs.
"Macey's only complaints are that we barely let her in so far, but we feel pretty confident she will wear through the floor running circles around the new space." That's what owner/manager Kevin Craft told CL when we caught up with him to talk about City Bike Tampa's recent expansion.
The small store — located at 208 E. Cass St. in downtown Tampa — has been screaming for growth for a while now, and Craft, 30, says that not being crammed in allows for a more customer-focused approach and gives patrons a more complete look at all the two-wheeled toys the store carries.
"In my head I always knew [expansion] was coming, but it was just about waiting out for the right time for us, the city, and the maturity of the shop as well," Craft said, adding that his staff kept most of the work in-house. "It may not be as prim and polished as some stores, but there is a personality to what we do and a care that only comes when you do something yourself." Craft may even be able to add to his staff of three people, telling CL that it's likely he will have to hire at least one more person to help out in the bigger store.
"We only hire mechanics, they understand why a bike does what it does," he said. "Even though they aren't always the best at sales, you get honest conversation about what you should really be looking for in a bike, not just what we want to put you on."
The public gets a chance to see the fruits of City Bike's labor on Thursday when the popular Urban Restaurant Tour kicks off there at 5:30 p.m. The October 30 ride is sold out. Ten walk-up spots will be available on a first come, first served basis, but being at the shop still gives riders a chance to chat with fellow cycling enthusiasts, many of whom helped paint the inside of the building in the days leading up to the opening.
"I feel bad asking anyone to help like that and we had a bunch of people show up, just a really cool and humbling feeling," he said. "I love the power of bicycles, and what they can do to a person, a city, and the lifestyle and health aspects that go along with it. In such a simple way a bicycle can change an entire community and become the enabler for many additional things."
City Bike Tampa — which readers voted as runner up for Best Bike Shop in CL Best Of The Bay 2014 poll — is located at 208 E. Cass St. in downtown Tampa. More information on the shop is available here. Check out some photos from the expansion below.