LAKEWOOD, Ohio – City resident Ryan Sheldon spent about $40,000 renovating long-vacant adjoining Detroit Avenue storefronts and opened Beat Cycles, a bicycle sales and repair shop.

The business opened May 23 at 15608 Detroit Ave. in what most recently had been Army and Navy recruiting offices. However, the offices had been vacant for quite a while.

Sheldon did most of the renovation work himself, designing and laying out the store and building display counters. He tore up tiles and sanded and refinished hardwood floors.

"We got a lot of repurposed wood from a salvage company in the Flats," Sheldon said. "We implemented a more rustic design into the build out of the store. It needed everything."

Electricians and plumbers installed new electric wiring and plumbing. A new heating and cooling system was required. Sheldon hoped to open the store April 1, but the renovations took longer than expected.

However, the store is now filled with inventory, including dozens of bicycles from Cannondale and the Brooklyn Bicycle Co., which produces Dutch-style cruiser bicycles.

"It's a Euro-style feel that fits well with this community," Sheldon said of the Brooklyn brand.

Despite the delay in opening and higher-than-expected renovation costs, Sheldon said the store got off to a strong start over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, selling a dozen bicycles.

The store provides employment for Sheldon, his wife, Brittany Graham, and one part-time and one full-time employee.

Sheldon has worked in the bicycle industry for years, including managing a store for Eddy's Bike Shop, a Cleveland area chain. He eventually decided to open his own store.

"The bicycling community in Northeast Ohio is growing exponentially," Sheldon said, explaining why he selected Lakewood as the location for his bicycle store. "One of the unique things about Lakewood is they have infrastructure plans and designs in place tailored around cycling."

Lakewood has adopted a bicycle master plan that encourages bicycling as transportation. Sharrrows, which are pavement markings, painted on Detroit Avenue remind motorists to share the road with bicyclists, and the city has installed bike racks along the street.

The League of American Bicyclists recognized the city last year as a bonze-level Bicycle Friendly Community.

Bryce Sylvester, a Lakewood city planner, said the addition of a new business to a long-vacant storefront was a positive sign for the downtown area.

"It is another healthy sign for our commercial corridors," Sylvester said. "Lakewood is made up of a lot of independent and locally owned business operators. Beat Cycles is another great example of somebody who is making a significant investment in Lakewood because they see market opportunity."

Beat Cycles becomes the second bicycle store in Lakewood. Spin Bike Shop, on Madison Avenue, is about one mile away.

"We think there is definitely market opportunity for Ryan to do well there," Sylvester said.