Word on the Street: Fulton Cycle Works expanding at Warnors Theatre downtown

Fulton Cycle Works is more than tripling in size in a unique location: Warnors Theatre.

More specifically, it’s expanding from its one tiny storefront flanking the theater to three storefront spaces facing Fulton Street. The expansion will take the bike shop from 450 square feet to 1,500.

The shop moved to the first space at 1428 Fulton St. in February, but the 3-year-old business was stuffed into the space. Bikes were stacked three racks high and display racks stretched up the 13-foot-high ceilings.

Now, Fulton Cycle Works is in the process of taking over the empty spaces next door once occupied by All Things Fresno, a store that sold local art, books and other Fresno-centric items. The store is out of business, though the people overseeing it have not ruled out reopening elsewhere.

Fulton Cycle Works owner Darren Johnson and partner Max Orendorff (along with sidekick dog Bonham) still have a lot of work to do before they can use the space. They plan to knock out a wall and redo much of the interior. They hope to be up and running by Feb. 1.

They plan to install a coffee machine and seating to create a sense of community.

“I want people to hang out, not just buy their stuff and leave,” Johnson says.

The extra space also allows the business to add a second service bay, more storage and space to display more bikes that previously had to be ordered for customers wanting to buy them.

That includes more Bianchi and Public brand bikes and more kids balance bikes – short bikes without pedals that kids sit on and kick themselves along the pavement with their feet. By the time they learn to balance, they can graduate to a regular bike and skip the training wheels step.

The store also began carrying Torelli bikes, a high-end Italian line that is custom-built.

Despite multiple moves over the years, Fulton Cycle Works has stayed loyal to downtown.

“This is what we’ve always been shooting for – to be the downtown bike shop,” Johnson said.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Word on the Street: Fulton Cycle Works expanding at Warnors Theatre downtown."