Despite bike boom, nonprofit bike shop Pedal Revolution shutters for good

Despite bike boom, nonprofit bike shop Pedal Revolution shutters for goodMona Caron, Swiss-born artist and Upper Market resident, painted a mural on Pedal Revolution's storefront in 2017. | Photo: Courtesty of New Door
Teresa Hammerl
Published on June 10, 2020

After more than 25 years serving the neighborhood, nonprofit Mission-based bike shop Pedal Revolution (3085 21st St.) shuttered its doors permanently on June 1, along with a related business, screen printer Ashbury Images.

Both businesses were "social enterprises" of New Door Ventures, a Mission-based nonprofit that helps prepare youth 16 to 24 years old with education and job skills.

"Through this difficult decision, we will ensure that New Door survives this economic crisis and can continue to provide programs and support for low-income Bay Area young people," a statement on Pedal Revolution's website reads.

Despite being considered an essential business, Pedal Revolution closed at the beginning of shelter-in-place on March 17. The closure was intended to be temporary, but as nonprofits struggle to fundraise in the pandemic-induced recession, it will become permanent.

"With the additional challenges to our programming and fundraising projections for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19, the added financial burden of owning and supporting the business is no longer tenable," the statement said. 

New Door representatives said on the nonprofit's website that they are currently considering selling Pedal Revolution, meaning the bike shop could reopen under new ownership.

Reached via email, a representative said there are no immediate plans for the building, or the mural by Mona Caron that adorns the storefront.

According to the statement, Pedal Revolution faced challenges before shelter-in-place, like "maintaining staffing levels, economic changes to our city and neighborhood, and demographic changes to the youth population that we work with," and the nonprofit expects those challenges to continue post-COVID.

The closure of the bike shop also ends an internship program operated for nearly two decades, which has provided jobs and education to about 500 young people.

According to New Door's website, the nonprofit will continue providing remote programming, and will begin providing in-person classes, workshops, and internships when public health orders change and they're able to do so safely.

New Door also plans to place interns with external job site partnerships, as "these internships are much less expensive per intern and provide similar job training experiences and outcomes for youth."

New Door representatives ask those who have a serious interest in acquiring the bike shop to contact them via email.