TORONTO (BRAIN) — Don Watterson, the founder of Curbside Cycle and Fourth Floor Distribution, died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 71 years old.
Watterson launched Curbside in 1991 as a source for city cycling gear in Toronto. The first store was a "semi-legal" tent by the side of the curb, which gave the store its name. From there it moved to an old candy store until it found its home on Bloor Street in the Annex neighborhood. Customers included urban theorist Jane Jacobs, Margaret Atwood, Rachel McAdams, and many more.
In 2006, store employees started importing European city bikes from Batavus and Pashley and the following year Watterson launched Fourth Floor Distribution, which distributed European city bikes and accessories to retailers coast to coast. The distributor help establish brands including Linus, Pashley, Simcoe, Babboe, Nihola, and Basil in Canada.
Services will be next week in Toronto. There is more information at cardinalfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/donald-watterson.
