Fifty Plus (50+) - Longest-Running LBS?

As various threads have shown, the question of what makes for an optimal LBS is one that admits of a variety of responses, based on criteria that are by nature somewhat subjective.

To move the disucssion in a more objective, or at least a more easily quantifiable direction: what is the oldest LBS out there?

I am glad to say that my city has one that is now in its second century...
http://ekicyclery.com/aboutus/

Still family-run, really nice people!

Try this (http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/store/content/43/Heritage/)one ...

Oscar Wastyn in Chicago? Alex Singer?

Ok, I think Pearson probably takes it.

I think it's fairly obvious that ThatBritBloke does NOT play poker.

You could have seen this thread go on for a few days and then trumped everybody!

Just putting you Merkins out of your misery. However, this (http://koppscycle.net/)bike shop is a ten minute ride from where I live.

"The British think 100 miles is a long way; Americans think 100 years is a long time ..."

We talking in the U.S. or in Europe? Europe will probably have much older shops, especially on England, I would think.

Bill

"The British think 100 miles is a long way; Americans think 100 years is a long time ..."

That right there is a good one. 100 miles is nothing here(in a car). I'm driving 750 miles(one way) next week just to go skiing for the weekend ;). 100 years is about half our existence here in the U.S.

Interesting equating optimal with longest running....Would this in some manner be suggesting that older is better. ;)

Interesting equating optimal with longest running....Would this in some manner be suggesting that older is better. ;)

Well, I wasn't particularly trying to equate the two, but one could surmise that if a shop has managed to survive for a long time, they must be doing something right... :thumb:

100 years is about half our existence here in the U.S.

No necessarily so. St. Augustine FL is closing in on 450 years. It's been over 390 years since the English invaded Plymouth Rock and over 400 years since Jamestown was founded.

My new favorite LBS, Zumwalt's (http://zcbikes.com/articles/history-pg148.htm) in San Diego, opened in 1931 at the same location it currently occupies. At the moment, it has, among other things, MY 2012 Masi waiting for me.

My favorite shop (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/bikes.html) has been in business a long time, but not as long as some of the ones listed here. Harris Cyclery was apart of Harris Hardware, long ago. ("An authorized Raleigh Dealer!") I remember when the bike business was at the back of the hardware store. The hardware business is long gone, but the bike business is booming right along.

Belmont wheelworks is enormously popular, born at the height of the 70s bike boom.
A lot of people, including our senior U.S. Senator, do their bike business here.

Well, I wasn't particularly trying to equate the two, but one could surmise that if a shop has managed to survive for a long time, they must be doing something right... :thumb:
Perhaps it just illustrates ThatBritBloke's adage in that the Brits think it's too far to travel to a better bike store. ;)

I'm just one Brit. Most of the UK is within 10 miles of a decent bike shop. Travel 100 miles and you're likely to get wet ...