STURGIS, Mich. (BRAIN) — Retailers Carol Ann and Phil Pattengale will retire in early 2018 after running their store, The Kickstand, for 37 years. Located in this small town about one hour from Kalamazoo, The Kickstand is a full-service shop that carries Trek, Schwinn and Haro.
The Pattengales have relocated the store three times over the years, landing in its current 3,500 square-foot space in 2012. While the couple is looking forward to retirement, Phil Pattengale said they are sad to leave the town without a bike shop.
"We're the only one. We are hoping someone will step and want to buy it because we hate to close. We're just ready to retire," he said. "My wife and I are both in our 70s and it's been just the two of us running the shop all these years."
The couple began repairing bicycles out of their home in 1981, first for their own children and for friends and neighbors. They soon moved into a brick-and-mortar location and grew into a full-service shop. Phil Pattengale said the nearest bike shop is about 35 miles away, and the nearest Trek dealer is in Kalamazoo, about one hour from Sturgis.
If the Pattengales haven't found a buyer for the business after New Years, they plan to begin liquidating inventory and shutter the business.
"We're waiting to see if we can find someone to buy the store, but we are going to retire one way or another," said Phil Pattengale.
