After some trials and tribulations, an iconic Vancouver bike shop is returning to prominence with a sleek new look and location.
In the summer of 2023, Daily Hive reported that La Bicicletta Bicycles, a bike shop with a legacy spanning multiple decades, was filing for bankruptcy and closing its 233 West Broadway location.
Months later, we learned that CSL Sports had acquired its assets, keeping the legacy alive. One of the team members was Malcolm Steenburgh, now the CEO of Bici, formerly Bicicletta. He told Daily Hive what’s at the core of its revival.
“We’re rebuilding trust with our vendors, customers and employees and really focused on those three groups in order to get this back on its feet,” he said.
“I believe the store was the biggest [in Canada] at one point, and since we took it over in September 2023, we certainly have made big strides towards that again.”
The new store is located at 1497 Adanac Street. Steenburgh was told it’s the second-busiest cycling path in North America, but he hasn’t verified that yet. He said that in the first few months of the new operation, when they were in a space off of Kent Avenue, things were “really dark” and slow going.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
When we published the bankruptcy story last summer, a release from FTI Consulting stated that the former Bicicletta owed over 80 creditors a total of nearly $6.4 million. Despite that, Steenburgh is grateful that Bicicletta’s legacy is being preserved, albeit with a fresh coat of paint.
The acquisition of Bicicletta was structured as an asset purchase, so none of that debt was inherited.
Before and after. (Bici | Amir Ali/Daily Hive)
“We’re quite proud to have been able to push that forward and make sure that it didn’t end last year.”
One of the key goals has been figuring out how to lean into the community and, as Steenburgh points out, figuring out “how to activate with them. Figure out how to provide them value and get them excited about cycling.” Another huge part is repairing the relationship between the shop and vendors.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
You can purchase your bike or gear directly from the store, but Steenburgh said there’s almost a 50/50 split between purchases on the website and at the retail location.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
It tipped slightly in favour of the online marketplace during Black Friday.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
In recent years, many small businesses in Vancouver have struggled or have had to close their doors entirely. We asked Steenburgh if he had any tips for businesses that might be struggling on how they could maybe turn the tides against a lack of business in uncertain economic times.
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
We discussed that many local businesses don’t have a major online presence, at least not as organized or thorough as Bici’s. Steenburgh said, “Providing people with the ability to effectively take a look at what you’ve got in advance of coming into the stores is a really, really powerful thing.” The amount of business they do online outside of Vancouver is also substantial.
The community has also received it well. About eight months ago, someone on the Vancouver Cycling subreddit asked how the new shop was going, and even then, the reviews were great.
“I did pop in to use their pump, and they were really welcoming and helpful. Also, the new shop is beautiful. Worth a visit.”
We explored the entire retail space, including the workshop in the back, where staff hustled and serviced bicycles. We can confirm that the new retail space is beautiful.
At a time when so many Vancouver businesses with long legacies have closed, it might comfort some residents to see a brand with over four decades of history in the city persevere and, hopefully, thrive.
“We’re really excited to reinvigorate it and really invite people back in,” said Steenburgh.