HALES CORNERS, Wis. (BRAIN) — Wheel & Sprocket will relocate its long-standing Hales Corners location to a new mixed-use active-lifestyle development called Ballpark Commons, in Franklin, Wisconsin. The new location is about 3 miles from the Hales Corners store, which is also the head office for the eight-store retail chain.
Wheel & Sprocket will occupy the first floor and lower level of a three-story office and retail building in the development. That will give the store 10,150 square feet of first-floor retail space and an additional 10,000 square feet of lower-level storage.
Ballpark Commons will feature a 4,000-seat stadium, commercial and retail businesses, restaurants, residential apartments and various entertainment and active lifestyle amenities. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, with a tentative store opening planned for March 1, 2019.
"While moving away from the Hales Corners community, our home for 45 years, is bittersweet, we are thrilled to be part of the Ballpark Commons," said Noel Kegel, Wheel & Sprocket's president and co-owner. "Being part of an active lifestyle development with complementary users is huge, not to mention the benefits of having off-road and paved trails out our back door. This move speaks to the rapidly changing retail landscape where we will be able to deliver a more dynamic experience — this will be more than just a bike shop."
Wheel & Sprocket will be able to hold its indoor cycling classes there, and make use of the stadium and other amenities for events.
Mike Zimmerman, CEO of ROC Ventures, which is building Ballpark Commons, said, "Given our goal of creating an environment conducive to active lifestyles, we can think of no better partner than Wheel & Sprocket as our first retail announcement. It's enormously exciting to have a bike shop that is so active in promoting the benefits of the activity right on the Oak Leaf Trail and adjacent to a County Park. They will be a tremendous asset to the entire community."
Wheel & Sprocket also plans to open a location in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood in December this year. The company will relocate its offices from Hales Corners to the Bay View location, which is centrally located to the chain's other local stores.
