So long Velo Cult!
07-25-18, 06:00 PM
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So long Velo Cult!
I'm sure some will shed some tears for this one!
https://theradavist.com/2018/07/port...-online-sales/
https://theradavist.com/2018/07/port...-online-sales/
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The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
07-25-18, 06:16 PM
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Holy crap, good , bad or otherwise, that sucks! 
07-25-18, 06:25 PM
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10k square feet... Onsite beer and assume wine consumption... Event space... City... = to don't lo
07-25-18, 06:27 PM
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The space is odd already but perhaps, if it was cut in half, another bike shop could make a viable go at it.
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The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
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07-25-18, 06:29 PM
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Damn...I wonder if they will still have the doors open August 11?
Hope so. I'd like to drop in, get some pics before it all goes away...
Bummer
DD
Hope so. I'd like to drop in, get some pics before it all goes away...
Bummer
DD
07-25-18, 06:48 PM
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Oh man. I was looking forward to getting back there. They should partner with a brewery and have a small space in it.
07-25-18, 07:10 PM
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07-25-18, 08:05 PM
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We will always be thankful for their generosity and hospitality when they hosted VeloCirque. I am glad to hear that there is a clean exit/transition to the online world, which will greatly help with that small thing we like to call a consistent income (or as consistent as possible). Didn't know their online brand was that large or successful--this due to my simple ignorance on all aspects VC--but again, glad that it is! Best wishes to Sky and anyone else that continues on the VC ship!
07-25-18, 09:04 PM
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07-25-18, 09:33 PM
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Crap. Crap crap crap. Heaping steaming piles of crap.
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Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
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07-25-18, 10:26 PM
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How much is retail space, per square foot, in PDX these days?
It's bound to be expensive.. catching up to SFO , fast..
It's bound to be expensive.. catching up to SFO , fast..
07-25-18, 10:27 PM
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The article says the liquidation of the store starts on Aug. 1, so I would imagine it will still be going 11 days later, wouldn't think they could wrap it up that quick but may be pretty pared down by then. The going away party is this Sat. so that's the day to be there.
DD
07-26-18, 01:21 AM
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A great loss for all of us in the PNW. The Velo Cirque events put on by Velo Cult have been high points of my cycling experiences the last two years..
07-26-18, 04:46 AM
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It is sad to hear. I wonder what the issues were between the city and the shop. I always hate to hear when a business is regulated out of business.
There are, of course, large bike shops like Performance, but Velocult seemed to have a unique niche with their restaurant/shop.
I wonder what will happen with their huge collection of display bikes. Or, were those all for sale, and just previously poorly marked?
I could imagine a virbrant E-Bay company possible, especially with vintage bikes and vintage bike parts, especially if one had a good way to acquire bikes to strip.
There are, of course, large bike shops like Performance, but Velocult seemed to have a unique niche with their restaurant/shop.
I wonder what will happen with their huge collection of display bikes. Or, were those all for sale, and just previously poorly marked?
I could imagine a virbrant E-Bay company possible, especially with vintage bikes and vintage bike parts, especially if one had a good way to acquire bikes to strip.
07-26-18, 09:19 AM
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Too bad - it was a cool space and helped to bring back the Hollywood neighborhood.
I stopped in by chance back in 2013 while visiting my sister who lives in PDX. Didn't get any beer, because we were already blasted from day-drinking "Space Ale".
I stopped in by chance back in 2013 while visiting my sister who lives in PDX. Didn't get any beer, because we were already blasted from day-drinking "Space Ale".
07-26-18, 10:06 AM
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Damn. It was the first place I visited when I moved to Portland, and a must see place for visitors.
The issues leading to it’s demise are long and varied. @jyl was probably as close to Sky as anyone hre on the forum, perhaps he’ll post here soon after he sobers up from his depression fueled bender after finding out the news.
The C&V. community in PDX weeps.
The issues leading to it’s demise are long and varied. @jyl was probably as close to Sky as anyone hre on the forum, perhaps he’ll post here soon after he sobers up from his depression fueled bender after finding out the news.
The C&V. community in PDX weeps.
07-26-18, 12:40 PM
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Crap crap crap! one of my favorite places to visit while in PDX and conveniently located near my friends place in the Hollywood district. Steel bikes and craft beer what is not too like???
07-26-18, 12:40 PM
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This is so much worse than that. Picture CBGB shutting down to become an Amazon vendor. That's the kind of loss we're talking about here.
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07-26-18, 12:52 PM
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It was an interesting store. Walk in the store, and it was never clear what was for sale and what was not. And, very few prices on anything.
A store specializing in "Vintage" stuff would be a tough market. There is, of course, interest in vintage bicycles, but many buyers in the market are extremely independent.
One option is to do restorations, but that still is a tough market.
The store had an interesting bar, but didn't make their own sandwiches (would get them delivered from a nearby deli), and there were hardly any drinks in the place I could buy.
A store specializing in "Vintage" stuff would be a tough market. There is, of course, interest in vintage bicycles, but many buyers in the market are extremely independent.
One option is to do restorations, but that still is a tough market.
The store had an interesting bar, but didn't make their own sandwiches (would get them delivered from a nearby deli), and there were hardly any drinks in the place I could buy.
07-26-18, 12:58 PM
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Dang, I bought my old Purple 3Rensho from them, may need to see if I can help by another bike.
07-26-18, 01:08 PM
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It was an interesting store. Walk in the store, and it was never clear what was for sale and what was not. And, very few prices on anything.
A store specializing in "Vintage" stuff would be a tough market. There is, of course, interest in vintage bicycles, but many buyers in the market are extremely independent.
One option is to do restorations, but that still is a tough market.
The store had an interesting bar, but didn't make their own sandwiches (would get them delivered from a nearby deli), and there were hardly any drinks in the place I could buy.
A store specializing in "Vintage" stuff would be a tough market. There is, of course, interest in vintage bicycles, but many buyers in the market are extremely independent.
One option is to do restorations, but that still is a tough market.
The store had an interesting bar, but didn't make their own sandwiches (would get them delivered from a nearby deli), and there were hardly any drinks in the place I could buy.
The business model was odd, I thought. It seemed to be a small beer bar attached to a bike museum. Sky told me that he had sold most of the bikes there to collectors, who in turn kept them at the store indefinitely. Then there were all of those glass cases that doubled as tables with grillions of dollars of pretty bike parts.
I remember coming into the store for the first time and thinking, "where are the bikes for sale?"
@jyl was always trying to figure out how they could monetize their brand. They sold Velocult patches for a short period, then ran out. Velocult t-shirts were often not in stock except for a few odd sizes.
Maybe that's why we loved it so much. We weren't being sold anything, it was the cyclist version of an old school barbershop, just hang out and talk with other like minds.
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07-26-18, 01:13 PM
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As I understand it, this was a symptom of the problem with local regulations that drove them down. The cost to install the necessary facilities for legal food preparation was prohibitive. Likewise fire codes prevented making use of the copious downstairs space for events. It sounds like the final straw was some change that was going to be required in the configuration of the bar. Sky had a great vision for the place, but he was blocked from implementing it completely.
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