Green Fleet bike shop moving to larger digs

Green Fleet plans to nearly quadruple in size this summer as it relocates its bicycle shop, courier service and bike tour service.

Owner Austin Bauman plans to move his six-year-old business from 1200 16th Ave. S. to 934 Jefferson St. after he purchased a former muffler and auto center building.

A sign on the Jefferson Street building advertises Green Fleet as coming soon.

The move will allow Green Fleet to expand the retail portion of its business from 380 square feet to 1,400 square feet. Bauman said he spent 18 months looking for the right space for the business, landing on Jefferson Street due to its proximity to downtown and easy access to bike paths.

“Our niche is we’re a commuter bike shop, so we’re transportation-oriented,” Bauman said. “Being close to downtown is important for us because it’s people who use their bike for the lifestyle aspect.”

Bauman launched Green Fleet as a messenger service in 2009, adding bike tours two years later. Eventually, it evolved into a full-service bike shop with retail sales, repairs and bike rentals.

The courier service works mostly with law firms, music companies and other professional groups for business-to-business deliveries.

Guided bike tours take participants on three- to 10-mile rides around town with stops at different landmarks or eateries. Green Fleet offers a “Stories of Music Row Tour,” a “Signature City Tour” and a “Downtown Highlights Tour,” according to its website. The cost for a tour ranges from $35 to $85 per person.

Bauman hopes to make the move to Jefferson Street in August after renovations. The shop on 16th Avenue will remain open until the new location is ready.

“I’m thankful for the community we’ve had (at our existing location) and I hope that a lot of these people will stay with us as we move, but North Nashville is underserved in terms of bicycle shops,” Bauman said. “The number of people that ride in North Nashville is high and the commuter count on Jefferson is one of the highest in the city.”

Reach Lizzy Alfs at 615-726-5948 and on Twitter @lizzyalfs.