Mellow Johnny's! Start booking your flights...

[BeeLady]

I was at my LBS today and the owners had gone to Austin Saturday to see Mellow Johnny's. Its a small bike store with mainly storage space for commuters to park their bikes and it has showers for commuters. From what the LBS guy told me, Lance is not doing this mainly to sell bikes but to support computers. There are some bikes for sale but mainly commuter gear and stuff like that.

Anyway, sounds like a neat idea.

Aggie-Ama -- have you been there yet? What's your take?

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't been yet, probably this weekend since I have to go to another shop in the area to get the commuter I want.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That magazine cover says it's a "commuter bike shop"- that description might indeed be like a store with all kinds of gear that bike commuters might be interested in- I can imagine a large variety of racks, panniers, lighting systems, rain gear, mapping systems, etc.... maybe stuff that most typical bike-selling focused shops would seldom want to have in great variety anyway.
Not knowing any more details than that, it sounds like a good idea whose time has come to me.

[Running Mommy]

This is how I felt as well. While I think it is great what he is doing for the commuting community (showers/bike lockers are unheard of here), I think we will see some shops close. My favorite area shop is very close to there but they are big time and should only feel a small hurt. The others in the area do not have the volume of the shop I frequent. There are also several non-Trek shops in the area, but they are triathalon shops.

Although, I am curious how personal his shop could feel. The one I frequent is big but you see the same employees and we aren't regulars at that location but they treat us like we are. We will probably visit his shop to drool on the bikes then take our money to our normal shop.

Yeah, a shop knowing your name means something.
Yesterday our friends were in from Northern CA for their first visit. While they were there no less than 5 customers who we know not only by name, but greet as if they are family, walked into the store. Even Douglas our homeless guy came by.
One of our friends asked if we knew all of our customers by name. lol

It was then that I realized that we kind of DO know them by name. I mentioned that to Allen, one of our regulars and he said that's what he likes about us. He said we have "changed his life".
That means a TON to me.
We have been so busy, I'm fighting the flu, our mechanic/manager/fit expert/sales guru has a bad knee and is in constant pain, and running hubbys regular job has kept him from helping me. So stress has been through the roof. but comments like Allen's keep us going.

I can only hope that the other shops in Austin have created that kind of atmosphere for their customers.
I still want to go check out MJ's, but at this point I don't know when I'll be able to find the time. (a good problem to have).
Of course I've always wanted to check out Austin in general- so just another excuse.

[tygab]

We are going to visit our family there in the fall (visit #2) and DH has already said this is a "must do" while we're there.

[KnottedYet]

I really wanna go, but probably will never have the chance.

Maybe I'll send a Travel Bug instead! www.geocaching.com

[Aggie_Ama]

Well we went today. It is not small in my opinion but a very cool shop. There were some high end drool worthy bikes (Seven, Merckx, Pinarello, etc) but there was plenty of commuter bikes. There were a lot of Trek and Schwin cruiser, some really cool Masi Cross bikes, interesting single speeds (Swobo) and some Soma Fab stuff. They had plenty of Trek and Gary Fisher but not nearly as much as expected. Honestly, I do not think they will take much business from the large Trek shop that is 4 blocks away.

The commuting stuff I needed was a little minimal, no real selection of racks or panniers. They did have some cool custom Timbuk2 bags (Black with one star), but my commute is too long for that. Great selection of apparel and suprisingly much of it is mid-price. I saw Giordana, Hincapie, Pearl Izumi, SWOBO and Capo Forma. They also have some casual clothes and Simple brand shoes.

If nothing else go to see some of Lance's and George's (!) bikes on display.

[fixedgeargirl]

I went to the shop on Bike to Work Day this past Friday. There is also a small cafe attached with some really good coffee ! I overheard one of the employees saying that they will be using the current shower/locker situation to gauge how much demand there is for that type of service and potentially adjusting based on what happens. It's not a small shop. I didn't look at the built bike area. While there was a compliment of "stuff", it didn't seem like there was much choice within each department, as in not very many brands of individual items. Ama, do you go to BSS? I think there is more variety there.

[Aggie_Ama]

Ama, do you go to BSS? I think there is more variety there.

Yes, once 360 Cycleworks closed I started losing my paycheck to BSS. I work right next to the North location (TROUBLE!) and they have had next to nothing in turn over for the past two years. The weekday crew is always the same and the assistant manager always asks if I still like the bike fit she did a year ago. She doesn't know my name (I don't think) but she knows my bike. I like the selection at the Central BSS better than any shop in town.

Funny story about Central BSS.... It used to be Austin Bowlarama, my mom was there watching my dad bowl the night before I was born. My parents have always been avid bowlers and I spent most of my infant-toddler days in the nursery. I was born to come to BSS.

[fixedgeargirl]

Yes, once 360 Cycleworks closed I started losing my paycheck to BSS. I work right next to the North location (TROUBLE!) and they have had next to nothing in turn over for the past two years. The weekday crew is always the same and the assistant manager always asks if I still like the bike fit she did a year ago. She doesn't know my name (I don't think) but she knows my bike. I like the selection at the Central BSS better than any shop in town.

Funny story about Central BSS.... It used to be Austin Bowlarama, my mom was there watching my dad bowl the night before I was born. My parents have always been avid bowlers and I spent most of my infant-toddler days in the nursery. I was born to come to BSS.

You have fulfilled your destiny !

[elk]

My DH was just in Austin for a conference and he came home with a boatload of stuff with the Mellow Johnny's logo for me...talk about a water bottle!!!

I loooove it... but i suppose i have a little crush on LA.....

[luv'nAustin]

Read some print ink about the shop in one of my monthly magazines. Just can't remember which one...Men's Health, Women's Health, Runners, Bicycle, Outside, Backpacker or one of the others that I read from cover to cover each month.