Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co. forced to close downtown store

Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co., a local nonprofit bike shop that partnered with the city to operate the Madison Bicycle Center, will be closing its downtown location at 202 S. Pinckney St. in June after the city declined to renew the store’s lease, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal.

The nonprofit provides low-cost or even free bicycle tune-ups and maintenance as well as operating a full-service retail shop.

The Madison Bicycle Center, which opened in 2020, was part of the city’s Judge Doyle Square project and was intended to be supported by memberships from commuters who could store their bikes there and have access to showers, lockers, and a bike wash station. However, there were never enough members to break even, and commuters were not using the space either.

While Madison Freewheel tries to find a new home, it is open only on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. the nonprofit is hosting a closing sale April 1.