MINNETONKA, MN (BRAIN)—With the latest opening of its store in Minnetonka, Erik’s Bike Shop now operates 17 stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The newest is just shy of 7,000 square feet and carries a wider selection of triathlon parts and accessories including deep-rim wheels, wetsuits and goggles.
The store, which is holding its grand opening through the weekend, stocks more tri-specific apparel, 2XU wetsuits, and a deeper inventory of wheels from brands like Hed, Mad Fiber and Zipp than the other locations. It had a soft opening in mid-February and business has picked up substantially over the past two months.
“When we opened in mid-February, there was still a lot of snow on the ground in Minnesota and it was cold but still people were checking us out,” said Troy Mundahl, manager of the Minnetonka store. “We’re totally inundated with business because the weather is turning. I’ve worked for Erik’s for a number of years. It’s amazing; you put out the Erik’s sign and people just start to come in.”
Erik’s Bike Shop operates 17 stores—14 in Minnesota and 3 in Wisconsin. The Minnetonka store is the 12th in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. It along with two other stores in the Twin Cities have a triathlon focus. The Minnetonka store will carry the same brands as the other 16 stores including Specialized, Raleigh and Cannondale bikes, but a larger selection of tri products alongside road, mountain, commuting, women’s, BMX and kids bikes.
“The tri market is obviously growing in the Twin Cities and we thought we could focus on tri in these three locations,” said Mundahl, who worked as assistant manager at two other Erik’s stores and was a Yakima and Pearl Izumi rep in the territory before joining Erik’s.
Erik’s expects the store, staffed with a dozen employees, to draw clientele from communities in Minnetonka, Plymouth and Wayzata. The closest Erik’s store is in St. Louis Park, about five miles away, Mundahl said.
Mundahl said Erik’s Bike Shop plans to open an 18th store next month in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. That would expand the number of stores in Wisconsin to four. The other three are in Madison.
—Lynette Carpiet
lcarpiet@bicycleretailer.com
