Corktown-based bicycle shop to open second location in West Village

Metropolis Cycles, the Corktown bicycle shop that opened in 2015, is opening a second storefront in the West Village neighborhood. Metropolis Cycles East will offer new and used bikes, locks, tires, and other accessories, and a full service repair facility.

While construction at the shop’s permanent home of 8116 Kercheval St. won’t be completed until this summer, a pop-up location at 8044 Kercheval St. will serve as the temporary location of Metropolis, a seasonal business that needs to be open in time for the warmth of spring. They’ll move into the permanent location later this year.

A kick-off party for Metropolis Cycles East is being held this Friday, March 10, from 7 to 11 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by the nearby Craft Work restaurant. The shop will assume its regular hours of operation—11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday—the following Saturday, March 11.

Later in the year on May 6, Metropolis will throw a two year anniversary party at their original Corktown location, planning a bike race, bike-related tattoos, and music for the celebration.

When co-owners Shayne O’Keefe and Ted Sliwinski first decided to open the original shop, O’Keefe says he recognized a need for more bike shops in Detroit. The second location is the culmination of that idea.

A number of factors went into the new shop’s location, says O’Keefe, who lives in the nearby Poletown neighborhood. West Village is located near Belle Isle Park, a major destination for the region’s bicyclists. It’s also become a popular spot for new businesses and residential developments opening outside of greater downtown.

“We’re trying to go where the people are but also far enough away from other bike-related businesses,” says O’Keefe. “Between downtown and the Grosse Pointes, there’s a seven mile gap between bike shops and there’s a lot of people in that gap. We have a lot of respect for others in the bike business and don’t want to overlap.”

The Metropolis Cycles East pop-up is located at 8044 Kercheval St. in Detroit.

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