Fulton Heights Mower has a new owner and will soon have an exciting new venture sharing its space at 1311 East Fulton Street – the Ada Bike Shop Fulton.
Jim Ippel and his wife Linda founded the
Ada Bike Shop in Ada back in 1997. Now they're bringing on a new partner, Terry Idema, and will open the new location about March 1.
"We've been exploring something in an urban setting in Grand Rapids for the past two to three years," Ippel says. "Ada's a ways out for Grand Rapids people and there's a huge need for someone to sell and service bikes in the Eastown/East Grand Rapids/Heritage Hill area."
Ippel and mower shop owner Stephen Vos have known each other for years. When Vos approached Ippel to purchase the shop, the deal fell into place.
"He's got a nice business of selling and servicing lawn and garden equipment, so we decided to keep that business going and put the bike business with it," Ippel says. Vos will stay on as a key employee and the mower shop is open during the transition.
"We're going to bring a smaller representation of everything we do in Ada," Ippel says. "Our number one brand is
Cannondale, then
Raleigh USA, and
Scott has some really cool niche bikes. We’ll also sell and service
Kymco gas scooters."
In addition to accessories like bike locks, lights, pumps, pedals and helmets, the shop will offer apparel, gloves and Thule car racks.
Ippel says the building is about 100 years old; they've kept the original tin ceiling and refinished the original wood floors, plus incorporated a computer system linked to the Ada store.
"I think Fulton Heights (business district) is growing and with the new
Betty Van Andel opera center going up across the street, it's exciting to be here," Ippel says.
Source: Jim Ippel, Ada Bike Shop Fulton
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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