By Brittany Wiley
BAPA Business Liaison
Beverly Bike and Ski (formerly Beverly Bike Shop) opened 100 years ago in 1921 at 9121 S. Western. It stands, steadfast in its same location, now under its third owners, Paul and Kathleen Weise.
The Weises have their own history at the shop with 25 years of ownership under their belt. Paul remembers when they first arrived in 1996, trees surrounded Beverly Bike and Ski. He recalls customers parking across Western in the grass and walking across the street into the store.
The landscape around the shop has changed, the former golf course is now a shopping center and the trees were removed to make way for businesses and buildings.
And as the landscape has changed so Beverly Bike and Ski itself. A showroom expansion enabled the business to showcase 50 additional bicycles, a 100% increase.
Weise’s history managing in the bike and ski department at Erehwon Mountain Outfitters inspired him to bring in winter sports equipment when he purchased the neighborhood shop, hence the name change. When biking season slows down, the store offers sleds, snowshoes and cross-country skis for rent and purchase.
Being “slow” has been a foreign concept to Weise and the rest of the bike industry for the past year. A COVID-safe and family-friendly activity, biking increased in popularity during the pandemic. Unfortunately, bike production has slowed almost to a stop due to the shortage of bike parts, which Weise says will likely take up to three years to return to normal.
Instead, customers are digging their old bikes out of the garage and bringing them into the shop. Weise said his crew has been working around the clock on repairs since last year.
Despite the difficulties Weise and the team are facing because of the parts shortage, they continue to serve the community as they have for the past 100 years. In addition to helping customers, Beverly Bike and Ski was a longtime sponsor of BAPA’s Beverly Bikes & Brews professional race and sponsored their own race team for 15 years.
The bike shop has made it through many moments in history that impacted business. When the oil embargo of 1973 started the early 1970s “bike boom,” the shop had three cash registers ringing up sales and a numbering system to help serve customers in order. When the boom imploded 1975 and sales dropped dramatically, Beverly Bike continued on.
If walls could talk, the walls at Beverly Bike would mention John Dillinger’s visits to the speakeasy that operated across the street in the Roaring 20s, when the shop was the official unicycle drop-off for Ringling Brothers Circus when the shop was their official drop off and hundreds were brought in.
The walls would also talk about the community surrounding the shop that the Weises and the other owners have served for 100 years. Shop manager Brian Vargas said he is “so thankful for everyone and their friendly nature.” He feels lucky to be a part of it.
This community is lucky to have Weise and the team at Beverly Bike & Ski. Show your support for their hard work this year and for all the years before by stopping in Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sun., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Wed. Visit their website at beverlyallseasons.com.
