Bike Shop to Open Near Civic Center BART, Provide Free Tune-Ups at Central Market Kiosk and UN Plaza Arts Market, Beginning June 16th

06/08/11—Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that Huckleberry Bicycles will open a retail storefront at 1073 Market Street this Fall. The independent, full-service start-up bicycle shop will be located across from the Civic Center BART Station and, along with soon-to-open Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers, represents the new retail energy coalescing around Central Market.

Huckleberry Bicycles will also help activate UN Plaza and the surrounding area, operating out of a 17-foot tall advertising kiosk at 7th and Market Streets, offering free minor repairs weekday mornings during commute hours beginning this summer. They will also provide free repairs at the SF Arts Market at UN Plaza, which opens June 16th and runs Thursdays through the end of the year. The kiosk program and the Arts Market, along with Off the Grid food trucks, are all programs initiated by the Mayor’s Office in an effort to activate Central Market with positive arts, entertainment and retail activity.

“It is exciting to see a new independent retailer sign a lease on Central Market,” said Mayor Lee. “Huckleberry Bicycles is a fantastic addition to Market Street, which we envision as a thriving bike- and pedestrian-thoroughfare as well as a center for unique retail, social media companies, and arts organizations.”

“We love bicycles and we love the folks who ride them,” said Huckleberry Bicycles Co-Owners Jonas Jackel, Zack Stender and Brian Smith, who each have over 12 years of bicycle retail experience. “As we like to say, and as we always keep in mind, Bikes Are For People. We look forward to serving the Central Market community and San Francisco as a whole.”

Huckleberry Bicycles approached the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) about a space on Central Market in 2010 and, after a long search, signed a lease at 1073 Market Street. They were assisted by Urban Solutions, a business development nonprofit organization funded by the City. The existing clothing business at 1073 Market Street, Midtown Rag’s, will be relocating to 1053 Market Street. 

The kiosk program, conceived by HOK Architects, is being negotiated by Central Market Community Benefit District, which hopes to populate several of the defunct 17-foot tall kiosks with arts and other retail activity that enliven the district. The City is assisting with the recruitment of operators and permits.  

Huckleberry Bicycles will also offer free minor repairs alongside art vendors at the SF Arts Market at UN Plaza, which will launch its second year of operation on June 16th and will run Thursdays from 11am to 4pm.  Initiated by OEWD last year with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the SF Arts Market will continue this year with support from Blick Art Materials and the Art Institute of California. OEWD has partnered with Independent Arts & Media to run the weekly open-air market offering local arts, crafts, literature, music and performance.