Design
In Chicago, A Store for Bike Snobs (and Coffee Lovers)
A new shop will sell hand-made, locally built bicycles to riders who want to stay a while
A bit of advanced manufacturing, a dash of locally-sourced sustainability, and a heaping spoonful of come-in-and-stay-a-while: that's what Michael Salvatore's aiming for with his new bike shop cafe in Chicago's up-and-coming Lakeview neighborhood.
Salvatore, who helped found online retailer Bowery Lane Bicycles in New York City in 2008, decided last August to bring the idea of hand-made, locally built bicycles to Chicago, where he was born and raised. "I just had my first kid and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to come back and start something here," says the 30-year-old Salvatore, who has a background in marketing and branding.