MINNEAPOLIS 81
  • About
  • Neighborhood Tour Recaps
  • Media

Neighborhood Gem: Behind Bars

9/22/2011

 

Behind Bars Bicycle Shop

Picture
Behind Bars Bicycle Shop, 208 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN.
Behind Bars Bicycle Shop
Website I Facebook I Flickr
208 13th Ave NE # 1, Minneapolis, MN 55413-2994 (612) 436-0255Hours:Tuesday - Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 12pm-4pm
Always Closed on Mondays.
Dogs always welcome.
Bus: 2 St NE & 13 Av NE
Picture
Angelina and Chuck.
Sheridan resident, Angelina McDowell, nominated Behind Bars Bicycle Shop, as a neighborhood gem. Angelina is a Bachelor's in Social Work student at Augsburg College and her main mode of transportation is her bike. Here's what she has to say about Behind Bars:

I love the guys working at Behind Bars Bicycle Bike Shop. Chuck and Josh (as well as the rest of the staff) are so personable and fun to talk to. They take time to get to know each and every person coming into the shop. When ever I have time, I like to go in there and just visit. I feel like I am hanging out at a friends' house that happens to fix bikes. 

When I was in a bike accident a couple years ago, my bike was out of commission for a few days, they were kind enough to loan me a bike from the shop to get around while it was getting fixed. 

This place is a great neighborhood business, with a fun staff, and I hope they are around for a very long time!
Picture
James, Chuck and Derek at Behind Bars.
PictureAngelina Mcdowell.

Angelina and I hung out in the "living room" of Behind Bars, talking about her experience with the bike shop. Her first encounter with their exceptional customer service was when she brought in a used bike she bought at a garage sale and they tuned it up at a cost in line with her investment. A year later, she came back in and Chuck called her by name! 

She was unfortunately hit by a car while on her bike and while she was OK, the bike was not. Chuck fixed it and returned it like it was new. 

Angelina talked about how welcoming the shop is and that she likes to stop by and just hang out. She even knows Chuck's wife and daughter. 

Picture
Chuck and his collections of belt buckles and skulls.
Chuck has made his shop his second home and even displays his collection of skulls around the shop (maybe his wife doesn't want them in their home?). He also collects belt buckles and has picked up many while thrifting as he travels. 
Picture
Bicycles for sale at Behind Bars.
Chuck likes biking on off road trails in the woods best but his daily commute to work takes him on the Theodore Wirth trail. When I asked him how he chose Sheridan neighborhood for his shot, she said he always knew he wanted to be in Northeast Minneapolis because of the arts, bars and neighborhood focus. For his part in contributing to the community, he sponsors school carnivals and donates to silent auctions in the north and northeast neighborhoods. Behind Bars is a partner of Full Cycle and helps sponsor Break The Cycle, a social fundraising event that benefits at-risk and homeless youth. He also helps sponsor racing teams- head sponsor for Behind Bars/Little Guy Racing and shop sponsor for Larson Cycle Racing team. 
Picture
Friend and customer of Behind Bars.
Chuck aims to have a shop where everyone who walks through the door feels comfortable. He likes that people stop in while they are waiting for a table at nearby restaurants. Every year, he has a sale during Art-A-Whirl since their is increased foot traffic in the area. 
Picture
Customer's dog welcomed with a drink.
I can see why Angelina likes hanging out at Behind Bars. Chuck is extremely personable and enthusiastic about his shop, his family, his friends and customers and hobbies such BMX and skate boarding at 3rd Lair Skate Park. 
Picture
Behind Bars Bicycle Shop mural.

Comments are closed.

    Neighborhoods

    All
    Armatage
    Audubon Park
    Bancroft
    Cedar-Riverside
    Cooper
    Corcoran
    East Harriet
    Elliot Park
    Hiawatha
    Kingfield
    Linden Hills
    Loring Park
    Mckinley
    Minnehaha
    Near North: Old Highland
    North Loop
    Northrop
    Powderhorn Park
    Seward
    Sheridan
    St. Anthony East
    Victory
    Waite Park
    Willard Hay - Homewood

    Archives

    April 2012
    February 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

  • About
  • Neighborhood Tour Recaps
  • Media