Originally Posted by
Oldairhead
I'm sorry, I already don't miss them. But I think there are lessons to be learned here.
#1 don't ignore your customers!
Locals do. I met most of my cycling friends at Velocult. Many rides started there. Once they opened the shop 4 hours early so 8 rando guys could meet up their and ride out the one of Jan's un-meetings. Everybody that came to visit me in Portland since I moved here over 4 years ago wanted to come by and see it.
The problem wasn't ignoring their customers. The problem was not having a sustainable business model, and understanding Portland's zoning requirements well enough to make it work/not enough money to modify the venue/too ambitious...
Maybe it's best it was here today, gone tomorrow (in relative terms). Is there another bike shop in the world that people knew about more than Velocult? Just gotta translate that into money, which they didn't do well enough.