Handsome Cycles, a Minneapolis-based bicycle manufacturer founded in 2008, has long had a national presence, with merchandise in 53 retail stores throughout the country.
The online business found its first dealers in the city, with
One on One Bicycle Studio and Go Coffee and
The Alt bicycle shop, according to Handsome co-owner, Jesse Erickson.
At the same time, “We always wanted a retail space” close to home, so when the storefront space beside One on One opened up, Erickson and his partner, Ben Morrison, jumped at it.
“We saw the opportunity to partner with someone who knows cycling culture and what’s needed on the clothing side,” Erickson says.
Previously, a music store occupied the space.
Erickson and Morrison tore down a wall between the two spaces, both of which are roughly 2,500 square feet, so that customers can go back and forth freely between the shops. “Our side will be more of a lifestyle store in the front half,” while the back area will serve as a showroom and build studio for Handsome’s custom-built bikes.
Beyond that, the Handsome space required little buildout, he says.
In terms of aesthetics, the space boasts exposed brick, hardwood floors, and wide open spaces.
He and Morrison are creating a modular setup that can be rearranged for different purposes. All in all, the place will have an industrial look “that’s raw and clean.” To achieve that, “We’re using a lot of reclaimed stuff,” especially wood from demolished barns and abandoned buildings, while metal piping runs throughout, he says.
Handsome will collaborate with One on One in hosting art shows, film festivals, and other events. “One on One has done a good job,” on this front, he says, adding, “It’s not just a bike retail store. It’s also a destination for the cycling culture.”
The store plans to open in March.
Source: Jesse Erickson, co-owner, Handsome Cycles
Writer: Anna Pratt