This fall I participated in the Cycle North Carolina cross-state ride with my cousin Patrick Day (who in his youth rode for Dale Brown's cycling team) and another friend. On the third night we stayed in Lincolnton, NC where we ran across a wonderful example of this. Two sides of one store: the "Ride-A-Bike Bicycle Shoppe" and "Fausto Coffee". I loved the pun, the proprietor was friendly and the coffee was excellent.
Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/
A local shop, here in Burlington, called North Star Cyclery, has a coffee corner. Not a complete coffee shop, but a nod in that direction.
Happy Thanksgiving!
David
David G. White Burlington, VT
Bianca Pratorius wrote:
> This month's Bicycle Retailer Mag features the increasingly popular
> combo bike shop and coffee shop concept. The idea is that people will
> stop by on a regular basis for their coffee but gradually cozy up to a
> new bike or part on another day. One shop insists that a vintage bike
> shop that appeals to older men ( I can't believe I now fit into that
> category) can co-exist with a conventional shop. Coffee may be one of
> the things that most demographic groups share. If I could drop by for
> tea and actually make a non bike purchase I personally would be likely
> to make more frequent shop visits. Right now I sometimes feel like
> more of a bother to the shop owner who's trying to make a living
> selling new bikes while at the same time chewing the fat about old
> Campy with me. For that reason I try to save up and distribute my
> visits for the few things I know I'll need like Pyramid Inner tubes,
> chains and bike tape. Except for the two grand I dropped on a nearly
> new Catrike, I'm afraid I'm not much of support system for my LBS's.
> One shop regularly orders a box of spokes for me or some new rims but
> he only adds 20% to his cost from JB distributors (hardly worth his
> effort unless you count the enjoyment he gets from talking about old
> stuff with me). If I could buy a cup of tea once a week I would just
> to pay for the privilege having a place to hang out. In any event -
> Thanks to all the shops across the world I have and have not yet visited.
>
> Garth Libre in Miami Florida USA