Yojimbo's Garage Holds Big Sale To Stay Open
 

Competition is tough out there and it's taking its toll on Yojimbo's Garage,
1310 N. Clybourn. Owner Marcus Moore is planning a BIG SALE with the hopes
of preventing the closing of the venerable bike shop on Chicago's near
northwest side. The sale lasts until the New Year and is good on all
in-stock, non-consignment purchases priced more than $100. The discounts are
as follows:

15 percent off purchases at $100+
20 percent off $200+
25 percent off $300+
25 percent off all bikes

Tell your friends, your grandmother, your enemies. The more the merrier. If
you don't see something you want, just ask. If you want to make a
mega-purchase and don't feel that 25 percent is good enough, Moore is all
ears. The bottom line is that December sales will dictate the future of
Yojimbo's Garage. Get on your bike and get to Yojimbo's before the end of
the month. Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri - 8am-6pm; Tues and Thurs - 8am-3pm; Sat and
Sun - noon-4pm. For more information, call 312-587-0878.

One of the few times Bicycling magazine wrote anything worth reading was when they profiled Yojimbo's Garage. Looks like a great shop that would be a huge loss to your area's riders. I hope he survives.

It looks like there are a lot of Chicago riders on this board, so go support this guy! Your cycling buddies need hell-a-day presents, don't they? ;)

I wish I was in the area...I could use some misc. stuff.

PJ

Thanks for the heads up, I'll do what I can to help support another great independent shop.

Had I known about Yojimbo's when I lived up there, he would have gotten all my business.

Damn, damn, damn!

I just called Yojimbo's and talked to Marcus. I'm going to sticky this in the news and announcements section too- a store like this should NOT be closing down. I swear, if it closes, I will have NOPLACE to go. In the meantime, I think I may look for some grants or something he may be eligible for, and I already offered up my geek computer brother's services if he wants a webpage or just wants flyers or brochures.

This is terrible, and not fair at all. Anyone in the Chicago area needs to go by that store and support it. First, we may lose the velodrome, and now we may lose Yojimbo's too? What the heck is Chicago coming to?

I'm going to call over to the folks who sponsor the bike show and ask what they can do, and I think the Chicago Bicycling Federation ought to step in, since he does what he can to support them. I'm also going to put a call in to the City and talk with some of the folks I know there and see if they can do something. I mean, a company that's opened in Cabrini Green ought to have some kind of city tax help- my company is out in Englewood and we get incentives for being out there.

Shoot. Can anyone else think of something we can do?

Koffee

i live in philly but my family is from chicago, so i'll be there over the holidays. i'll definitely stop in at this place(never been). i'd love to pick up a nice frame to use come spring time. sounds like a cool store; look forward to going there.

dan

It is the best store around. I don't go to any store anymore- just Yojimbo's. The only time I don't go to Yojimbo's is when they say they don't have what I want. Then that's the time to get it someplace else.

They are right off Division on Clybourn- like 2 blocks north of Division. It's easy enough to get there, so please do go!

Koffee

If you don't live in Chicago and still want to help, I'm sure Marcus will ship your purchase anywhere you'd like, just give him a call. Tell him Mayonnaise sent ya.

Not really in need of anything but am interested in helping in some way. What do they carry?

It's a regular bike shop. They carry bikes and frames, messenger bags, tools, bike accessories....

Best thing to do is call Yojimbo's- give them a ring tomorrow and see what they've got, and if they have anything you need, he'll get it to you.

Koffee

{an email from Yojimbo}

that's right, it's time for the...

1st ever TOUR da TUBE CRISPY CREME COUCH POTATO MARATHON!!! *(with giveaways!)

It's time to dust off the old videos and bust a gut,
Yojimbo's Garage is having Open House!
Every Sunday in December!
Shop hours are as normal- noon-4pm... *
But there will be no repairs at that time,
only sales, race video watchin' and donut eatin' during business hours!
So come on by, stick something in yer maw, courtesy of YG,
watch some racin' by the big boys, and girls,
AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE FREE DRAWING!!
(which will only be available during sundays)
That's right, one entry per person per day, no purchase necessary.
One name will be drawn each sunday after the feature video

But the videos don't stop at 4pm!
4pm is when the real customers are kicked out,
we friends get locked inside, the lights get turned down,
and the feature film gets slipped into the VCR! *(or should I get a hold of a DVD player?)
The feature film will be voted on by those attending,
from a selection in the shop vaults, or brought by a guest.
The feature will be bike related or themed, but not about bike racing per say.
Everyone will chill out for a bit,
snacks and beverages will be consumed,
the film will roll, the drawing shall be drawn, and then I'll kick everyone out!
Good Times!

Yojimbo's Garage
1310 N. Clybourn
312.587.0878

-----FAQs-----
Andrew: During the Open House, you're just asking people to come by and visit?
YG: *Yes. *And if they feel inclined to buy anything, they should get to it!... *Until 4pm, when all retail functions cease.

Jeremy: *Are you going to have donuts, and other edibles, available during the Open House?
YG: *Yes.

Nico: *So, you say you're having a free drawing? *I don't need to purchase anything at your store? *And I can be anyone?
YG: *That's right. *No purchase necessary. *You can be anyone you want to be.

Mike: *You're going to hold a separate drawing each week in December?
YG: *Yes.

Sparky: *Can I use a pseudonym to enter the drawing more than once on the same date?
YG: *No.

Rebecca: *Can I enter the drawing if I'm out of town on Sunday?
YG: *No.

Rebecca: *Even if I'm competing in the National Cyclocross Championships?
YG: *Sorry. *Feel free to have your parents come by. *Or your sister. *Or all three... How's that for good odds?

Alan: *Do I have to be a member of XXX Racing to enter the drawing or attend the feature film?
YG: *No.

Brian: *What, exactly, were you expecting to give away?
YG: *I'm not sure yet. *I was thinking about a few of the things that have been sitting around the shop... *I don't know... *A poster? *A video? *Maybe one of my old aero "helmets", perhaps one of the old pro team jerseys.

Sean: *a world champion's jersey?
YG: *No.

Vince: *What will you do with the entries that don't win, once the giveaway has concluded?
YG: *I will burn them with fire.

Nicole: *Do I need to RSVP for the feature showing?
YG: *No, please don't RSVP. *No RSVPs will be accepted.

Adrian: *If I show up after the film starts, will you still let me in?
YG: *No. *After 4pm, the doors will be locked to entry, and no one will be granted admittance.

Reid: *Do I need to attend the feature to win the giveaway?
YG: *No.

Gareth: *Will there be ample bicycle parking inside the shop?
YG: *This I fear not so, dear friend. *The overwhelming popularity of Yojimbo's Garage on sunday evenings in December will have us feeling like 9 cross racers wedged in the team van after a long day in the snowy Rockford hills; slowly lumbering Chicago bound, cold, wet and ready to throw the bikes out the window.

Michael: *How many people are going to be allowed to watch the film?
YG: *That number shall be known and enforced by me who holds all privileges concerning discrimination, including but not limited to coolness factors, donut supply, hometown, age, jersey color, giftbearingness and scent.

Nick: *So, we're just going to be sitting around, eating, drinking, laughing, watching. *Pretty much- just having a good time?
YG: *Pretty much.

Joe: *Which videos do you have at the shop?
YG: *Tons of race footage. *As far as possible feature selections- I have American Fliers, Beijing Bicycle (DVD),Breaking Away, Messenger, Pedal, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (DVD) and We Are Traffic.

Kris: *Can I bring my own video cassettes?
YG: *Yes.

Jefferson: *Do you have a DVD player?
YG: *No.

George: *Can I bring my own DVDs and DVD player?
YG: *Knock yourself out.

Jason: *Can I bring my dogs?
YG: *Not inside, during the feature film.

Brandon: *Are you going to have comfortable seating?
YG: *No.

Bill: *Can I bring my own chair?
YG: *Yes.

Tim: *Can I bring my own snacks? *Oh, and some to share?
YG: *Of course.

Josh: *Can I bring my own beer?
YG: *As long as you are of legal age, and can handle yourself well, yes.

Randy: *Are you going to count the calories consumed?
YG: *No.

Zach: *Can I sleep on the couch?
YG: *Only during the feature film, but you'll have to go home for the night.

Damn, after reading this, I want to buy a ticket to Chi Town for a long weekend just so I can attend one of these Sunday Events.

L8R

Yojimbo's/eBay
 

Just went there to finish off my XMAS shopping. Haven't been there yet? GO NOW!
FYI-Marcus also has some goodies on eBay under the seller name 'mdad49'

I'm actually working on putting together the scam to get the money from relatives so I can get that bike I've had my eye on there at Yojimbo's. I'm hoping to have my act together in the next two weeks myself. If I get it, then we should hook up for a cold ride, 165!

Koffee

That would be awesome! 3 birds, 1 stone.
My friend skitbraviking should have his bike soo too...maybe we could all go freeze.
Marcus thanks everyone for their help and kindness!

Yea! I can't wait to freeze
On my single speed.

:D

I was in there yesterday and told him that I was there specifically because of the posts on here about his place. I think that he got a kick out of that.

I'll definently head back he was super nice and let me poke all through the place basically(and talk his ear off.)

Might be time for a new set of wheels for that winter bike.

Thanks again everyone for the heads up.

Must have missed ya!
I was there from 1230-230

I think that I left there about eleven fourty five or so. He was letting me check out this cool CoMotion frame he has with the break apart couplings for letting it fold up. I thought he was really cool for doing that considering he was right in the middle of tuning a wheel.

I could have spent much longer there, but there were some other things to do yesterday.

Dang.... break apart couplings! I didn't see that bike when I was in there! Then again, I wasn't looking at frames, I was looking at that Fuji...

:D

Koffee

Which Fuji? The Roubaix?

I can't remember.... dude, it was hanging on the left as you walk out the door. I just looked at it for a moment or two, then got my bike and flew out of there (this was about a month ago too).

Koffee

It was his personal bike I believe. They were some sweet couplings. I don't know that I really need them that much though. It can be pricey to add them after the fact and it's best done when a frame tubing is being chosen.

Chicago READER article!!!
 

Yojimbo's/Marcus are in the latest edition (Dec 19) of the Chicago Reader. Section 1, pg. 31.