BizBeat: Red Wheel Bike Shop gears up for big move

Currently located along Edgewood Drive, Red Wheel Bike Shop, Jefferson City's only bike rental, will be heading across town come November. Owner Nick Smith said the shop will soon move to 400 W. Main St., to be housed in the old Union Electric building.

"The bike rental aspect is what really spurred this," Smith said.

The store was approached by the building owners about moving to the downtown area. Smith said the location is so close to the bridge and the Katy Trail, after a little convincing, he couldn't pass it up.

"We're so excited," Smith said of becoming a part of downtown and being so close to the hotels and Capitol.

He's hoping the close proximity will bring more bike rentals from tourists, and even the state workers. The News Tribune reported in May that the bike shop began offering rentals after several requests. The new location will be a bigger space and will allow the shop to continue its retail, repair and rental business.

The space is currently being prepared for big renovations, which Smith hopes will be completed in time for the shop to move into the new space by Nov. 1.

"It's going to be awesome."