Coqui Cyclery at 3416 Semmes Ave. (BizSense file)
After a weeks-long shutdown last month that left its customers in the dark, Southside bike shop Coqui Cyclery is back in business.
The store at 3416 Semmes Ave. reopened at noon on Friday. It remained unclear this week what prompted owner Clint Kronenberger to shutter the store in December and go radio silent on customers who were waiting on bike purchases, repairs and other products.
Kronenberger declined to comment at length while working at the store on Friday, and didn’t respond to subsequent requests for comment by phone and email. He said that by that point last week most people had retrieved bikes that had been left at the store prior to the closing.
Clint Kronenburger
“I’m just trying to navigate keeping open and keeping everybody happy,” Kronenberger said on Friday. “Pretty much everybody that had something here has already picked it up and has been super nice and happy and supportive.”
The reopening followed a Jan. 4 post to the store’s Facebook page, which appeared to be its only public statement regarding its status since it went dark in December. The post stated the shop would plan to reopen in mid-January and that it would return customers’ items in its possession.
“We truly do apologize to our community of clients and friends for any stress or inconvenience that this 25 day business closure has caused,” the Facebook post read in part. Coqui didn’t elaborate in the Facebook post on the cause of what it described as its “unavoidable and unfortunate” closure.
Customers had spent weeks trying to reclaim bikes left with the store or parts ordered before the unexpected closure. Multiple customers shared with BizSense or posted to social media about their efforts to recover bikes worth thousands of dollars and the lack of communication from the store.
While it has reopened, Coqui continues to face legal challenges that cropped up during its closure.
The store was hit with a lawsuit in December from California-based bike-maker Giant Bicycles USA, which claims the shop owes the company $144,000 for goods that were bought on credit and had not yet been paid for. A hearing date hadn’t been set as of Tuesday afternoon, according to online court records.
A customer also filed a claim against Coqui in late December in Richmond General District Court, and a hearing in that matter is slated for Jan. 26.
Coqui opened for business on Semmes in 2012. In addition to sales of bikes, it also provides maintenance and repairs and sells accessories. The store carries such brands as Liv, All-City and Surly in addition to Giant.
Coqui Cyclery at 3416 Semmes Ave. (BizSense file)
After a weeks-long shutdown last month that left its customers in the dark, Southside bike shop Coqui Cyclery is back in business.
The store at 3416 Semmes Ave. reopened at noon on Friday. It remained unclear this week what prompted owner Clint Kronenberger to shutter the store in December and go radio silent on customers who were waiting on bike purchases, repairs and other products.
Kronenberger declined to comment at length while working at the store on Friday, and didn’t respond to subsequent requests for comment by phone and email. He said that by that point last week most people had retrieved bikes that had been left at the store prior to the closing.
Clint Kronenburger
“I’m just trying to navigate keeping open and keeping everybody happy,” Kronenberger said on Friday. “Pretty much everybody that had something here has already picked it up and has been super nice and happy and supportive.”
The reopening followed a Jan. 4 post to the store’s Facebook page, which appeared to be its only public statement regarding its status since it went dark in December. The post stated the shop would plan to reopen in mid-January and that it would return customers’ items in its possession.
“We truly do apologize to our community of clients and friends for any stress or inconvenience that this 25 day business closure has caused,” the Facebook post read in part. Coqui didn’t elaborate in the Facebook post on the cause of what it described as its “unavoidable and unfortunate” closure.
Customers had spent weeks trying to reclaim bikes left with the store or parts ordered before the unexpected closure. Multiple customers shared with BizSense or posted to social media about their efforts to recover bikes worth thousands of dollars and the lack of communication from the store.
While it has reopened, Coqui continues to face legal challenges that cropped up during its closure.
The store was hit with a lawsuit in December from California-based bike-maker Giant Bicycles USA, which claims the shop owes the company $144,000 for goods that were bought on credit and had not yet been paid for. A hearing date hadn’t been set as of Tuesday afternoon, according to online court records.
A customer also filed a claim against Coqui in late December in Richmond General District Court, and a hearing in that matter is slated for Jan. 26.
Coqui opened for business on Semmes in 2012. In addition to sales of bikes, it also provides maintenance and repairs and sells accessories. The store carries such brands as Liv, All-City and Surly in addition to Giant.
While it’s nice to see them reopen to take care of those who’d already made purchases or were waiting on repairs, I’m really curious as to whether they’ll be able to continue as I would think there’s been significant damage done to their reputation and the trust of their customers in them.
The damage is done.
Bought two Giant brand bikes from them a few years ago and have enjoyed the bikes and the service provided by these folks. Thanks
Running and maintaining a small business is difficult. So when life throws you a curve ball, personal matters take priority. We should grant Mr. Kronenburger some grace.
I agree – I bought a bike from Coqui years ago and have always been satisfied with their service. Hopefully, the owner can resolve their personal issues and continue to operate a successful business.
Does anyone else miss the old days when a little-known bike store owner could close up shop one evening, move to Canada and start a brand new life and decidedly not be written about by anyone in the press?