MACON –The Bike Store is moving its Macon location to Mercer Village, the new retail district that anchors the campus end of the College Hill Corridor. The bike retail and repair business has signed a lease for 1305 Linden Ave., a 3,200-square-foot space next door to the Georgia Public Broadcasting studio. Renovation of the space is under way, and the owners expect to complete the move by March 1.
The Bike Store remains headquartered at Galleria Suites in Warner Robins, where it has operated its original location for nine years. Its Macon location is currently on Northside Drive. In addition to being an exclusive retailer of Trek and Gary Fisher bikes in Central Georgia, The Bike Store offers a professional bike-fitting service for cyclists and a wide variety of cycles, accessories and apparel.
“I look forward to the opportunity of working with Mercer University, the College Hill Alliance, students, faculty and Macon residents in helping create a cycling community for the college and surrounding area,” said owner Bill Staudt.
Staudt said that plans include organizing group rides from their new Mercer Village location that wind through the Mercer campus and downtown.
“The Bike Store will offer products and services that are conducive to making College Hill a bicycling community, which is a priority of the master plan,” said Patrick Madison, executive director for the College Hill Alliance. “It is indicative of our desire to promote a variety of retail uses that support the interest of the Corridor’s students, residents and businesses.”
The Bike Store builds on the success of Mercer Village, which is located at the intersection of Linden, Coleman and Montpelier Avenues. In addition to the Georgia Public Broadcasting Studio, it houses Francar’s Buffalo Wings, Jittery Joe’s Coffee, Ingleside Village Pizza and the College Hill Alliance office. Plans were recently announced for The Lofts at Mercer Village, a $10 million mixed-use development that will feature student housing and retail space, including the Mercer University Bookstore. Construction on The Lofts at Mercer Village is expected to get under way in early spring.
The College Hill Corridor’s goal is to restore the social and physical fabric between the Mercer campus and downtown Macon, while adding economic value to the city’s tax base, beautifying residential and commercial areas, attracting and retaining creative young professionals and program fun public events. The College Hill Corridor Commission serves as the community advisory board to the College Hill Alliance and is a diverse organization appointed jointly by the City of Macon and Mercer. For more information, visit www.collegehillmacon.com.
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