New Business Coming to Town | Maple Valley Native Turns outdoor Passion into Local Shop

Newsflash! A new business is coming to town and it’s something different. Actually, it’s something that seems to fit right in with the beautiful outdoors that defines the Snoqualmie Valley.

This February, Maple Valley native and recent Eastern Washington University graduate, Kevin Flynn, is bring his passion for [mountain] biking to the Snoqualmie Valley – more precisely, to Snoqualmie Ridge.

Northwest Bicycle will open on February 1st in the former Joseph’s Cleaners retail space at 8026 Douglas Ave Suite – next to Snoqualmie Ridge Chiropractic and Gateway Gas and Deli.

Kevin said he’s always been a very active outdoor person, whether it be cycling, motorcycles or any other sport, but after a friend introduced him to mountain biking, he was hooked.

After graduating with a degree in business finance, his passion for the outdoors and mountain bikes led him in a different direction – straying away from a typical office job.  He decided he wanted to start a bike shop in the area where he grew up.

Kevin said he looked at numerous locations for the shop, but said Snoqualmie was “hands down” his favorite area, adding that he was surprised there was no other bike shop on the Ridge yet – so he jumped on the opportunity.

His goal is to create a local shop for a community that needs one, and with Snoqualmie being an active community filled with kids and right in the heart of some of the best mountain biking in the world, Kevin feels he’s found the perfect combination.

He said providing friendly, knowledgeable customer service is the number one priority of his shop, explaining the he’s shopped at numerous bike shops over the years and feels he has a good idea of what works and what doesn’t in today’s market.

It took six months to turn Kevin’s plan into reality. He said he is working with some great brands who are very supportive of the local bike shop atmosphere he is striving for with Northwest Bicycle.

Kevin is starting small so as not to begin struggling with a ton of debt.  He said that part is a fine line for the business, but said he has managed to get everything the shop needs to best serve local families and riders – his current customer focus.

Northwest Bicycles will sell Giant, Kona and Rocky mountain bikes. Kevin anticipates mountain bikes and kids bikes to be the bulk of his business, but will also sell road, cross and comfort bikes.

The shop will also provide mechanical services and accessories, with Kevin doing all of the mechanical work himself. He said he has a strong background in mechanics dating back to his days racing motorcycles and so the transition to bicycle mechanics was easy.

As far as the technology and innovation introduced to the cycling community in recent years, Kevin said that’s also become a passion and what piqued his interest in the service side of the bike world.

Kevin commented, “I have had a number of people stop by the shop already during my build out and the support has just been amazing.”  He said he’s excited for what’s to come.

Good Luck, Northwest Bicycle.

Interior of new Northwest Bicycle, which opens on Feb. 1st in Snoqualmie
Interior of new Northwest Bicycle, which opens on Feb. 1st in Snoqualmie

 

Northwest Bicycle will open on the former Joseph's Cleaner retail space (near Gateway Gas and Deli) on February, 1, 2016.
Northwest Bicycle will open on the former Joseph’s Cleaner retail space (near Gateway Gas and Deli) on February, 1, 2016.

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