LONG BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Jones Bicycles, a fixture in this Southern California beach community for more than a century, is closing this month as current owners John and Lisa Genshock retire from the bike industry, according to the shop's website and social media posts. Store manager Darrell Schwaiger hopes to reopen the shop, but is seeking a more affordable location in Long Beach.
Frank Samuel Jones opened Jones Bicycles in 1910 to sell bicycles and wheeled toys. The shop was acquired by Ben Lawee in 1959, two years before Jones' death. Under Lawee's ownership, the retailer grew into a multi-store chain.
In 1965, Robert Olson purchased the Jones Bicycles location on Long Beach Boulevard from Lawee, also growing from a single store to a multi-store chain. But during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, looters stole more than 700 bicycles from the retailer, and Olson was not able to recover. He continued to operate two stores in Long Beach until 1994, when he sold the locations to the Genshocks.
John and Lisa Genshock eventually grew to three locations, and in 2001 they expanded their store on Second Street in Long Beach's Belmont Shore neighborhood to include skateboards. They also imported their own house-brand line of accessories from Taiwan under the F.U.B.A.R. name.
Their sole remaining location, the three-level Second Street store is currently holding a liquidation sale, and is accepting only minor service work until it closes in mid- to late April, according to the shop website. The site also refers customers to other local retailers who can warranty the shop's bike lines, which include Fuji, SE Racing, GT, Kona and Jamis.
The owners did not immediately return phone calls and email from BRAIN seeking comment.
