Virginia-Based Bike Shop to Open Location in Navy Yard
A Virginia-based retailer of bikes and accessories has plans to open a location in Navy Yard.
The owners of Conte’s Bike Shop plan to open a new location at The Yards (301 Water St. SE) early next year, announced Forest City, the developer behind The Yards.
The new store will span nearly 2,200 square feet and “offer the full array of merchandise and services available at all Conte’s Bike Shop stores,” according to the announcement.
The forthcoming location will be preceded by a temporary pop-up shop opening at the Arris development at 1331 4th St. SE tomorrow. That pop-up shop, slated to run Thursday through Sunday between May 19 and May 29, will sell and rent bikes in addition to offering repair services, clothing and gear and “expert advice.”
Read the full announcement below:
A popular local bike retailer with multiple locations will be riding into The Yards temporarily over the next two weeks and then returning for good early next year. Conte’s Bike Shop, a Virginia Beach-based bike shop has agreed to locate its latest DC-metro store at The Yards. The announcement was made today by Forest City, master developer of The Yards, DC’s premier urban mixed-use waterfront neighborhood located between the Washington Navy Yard and the Nationals ballpark in the Capitol Riverfront district. Conte’s Bike Shop plans to first open later this week a temporary pop-up bike shop at The Yards offering bikes for sale or rent, repair services, clothing and gear, as well as expert advice
The pop up location will be on Tingey Street in Arris, the latest residential building to be completed at The Yards. Opening Thursday May 19th, the pop-up shop will operate until May 29th, being open Thursday through Sunday of each week. During this period the popular Tour de Fat cycling community event will take place at Yards Park (May 19-20), as well as Bike to Work Day in DC (Friday, May 20th). This will be the only bike shop resource in the growing Capitol Riverfront
In early 2017, Conte’s Bike Shop plans to return to The Yards in a more permanent store location with the opening of their latest full service bike shop. To be located on 4th Street SE in the new Arris apartments building, The Yards will be Conte’s ninth store location and their first location outside of Virginia. Other area store locations include Arlington and Falls Church. The Yards store will be nearly 2,200 square feet and offer the full array of merchandise and services.
Founded in 1957 in Newport News by patriarch Charles Conte, Sr., Conte’s Bike Shop is still a family-owned and run operation. Today, David Conte, along with business partner Wayne Souza, carries on the store’s well-established reputation for superior service and merchandise.
The company has been expanding steadily over the past 15 years. In addition to Arlington and Falls Church in northern Virginia, Conte’s Bikes Shops can be found in the Tidewater region including Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, as well as in the Richmond area. Their Arlington location opened earlier this year.
Conte’s has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Best Bicycle Retailers in the country by a panel of leading manufacturers. They were also cited recently by Tidewater Women Magazine as the recipient of the 2016 Ladies Choice Award in the Bike Shops category. This distinction follows the company’s ninth designation last year as “America’s Best Bike Shop” by the National Bicycle Dealers Association. In 2015, Conte’s was named “Retailer of the Year” by the Retail
Their shops carry a full line of bikes and accessories including hybrids, mountains, cruisers and road bikes by leading brands including Giant/Liv, Eddy Merckx, BMC, Scott and more, as well as offering gear, accessories clothing and lots of expert advice. They also offer a trade-in policy and used equipment for sale. What’s more, Conte’s Bike Shop prides itself on being a community center and resource for the cycling community, offering events, clinics, structured
“Our excitement about becoming a part of The Yards is evident with our pop up location in May,” said owner David Conte. “This pop up shop will give the cycling community in this area a good taste of what Conte’s Bikes is all about. We invite everyone to come in and visit with us
“The Yards attracts many people who enjoy leading an active lifestyle and Conte’s Bike Shop addresses that market very well,” said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington. “We’re very pleased and excited they have decided to join us at The Yards.”
Photo courtesy of Conte’s Bike Shop
