Jack’s Bicycle Center celebrates 40 years
Posted on 06. Nov, 2009 by Isaac Bonnell in News
By Isaac Bonnell
Jack’s Bicycle Center, located at 1907 Iowa St., is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.
Jack De Vries, 75, started the store in 1969 in a small space on James Street next to Hardware Sales. The industry hasn’t changed much since then, he said. Bikes are still made of the same components and flat tires are still inevitable.
The one thing that has changed significantly is mountain bikes: “They got big when I started to get old,” De Vries said.
Mountain bikes are now a large part of the market, he said. Back in the day, De Vries rarely carried bikes that cost more than $1,000, but mountain bikes have changed that.
The business moved to its current location in 1995 and a few years later, De Vries handed it off to his son Kent and daughter Rhonda.
For Kent, the shop is a den of memories. A dozen or so vintage bikes hang on the walls, including the small, blue Motobecane he rode as a youngster. Then there are all the photos of his dad at the old shop. Kent hadn’t originally planned on taking over the family business, but bicycles run in his blood.
“I really enjoy the bicycle business,” Kent said.
For more information, call Jack’s Bicycle Center at (360) 733-1955 or www.jacksbicyclecenter.net
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