Cycle Gear store for motorcyclists to open Friday in Tinley Park

Cycle Gear will open its 99th store on Friday in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Cycle Gear, a national retailer of motorcycle apparel and accessories, will open its second store in the Chicago area at 10 a.m. Friday at 6905 W. 159^th St. in Tinley Park. The grand opening will be June 28-30.

It will be the second Midwestern location for the retailer, which opened in 1974 and is based in Benicia, Calif., near San Francisco.

“We opened the first Midwestern store in November in Schaumburg,” said Johnny Lin, chief marketing officer. “We wanted to make sure we could sell motorcycle accessories in the winter in Chicago. Our biggest fear was that sales would disappear in the winter months. That didn’t happen.”

Lin said the Tinley store would be about 3,500 square feet, about average for a regular store. The company has some superstores that range from 15,000 square feet in Mesa, Arizona, to 30,000 square feet in Sacramento, Caif.

“We sell everything except the bike itself,” Lin said. “That includes everything from boots to helmets to parts.”

Lin said Cycle Gear carries accessories for all brands of motorcycles except Harleys.

“They have their own chain of retail stores,” Lin said.

Lin said the company is in growth mode and the Tinley store will be the retailer’s 99^th store. The 100^th store will open later this summer in Harrisburg, Penn.

“We’ve opened four stores in the last year,” he said.

Lin said the company will probably open a third Chicago-area store in the future, but he didn’t have a timetable or location for that store.

He said the Tinley store would have a staff of 10-12 team members led by store manager Nycool (pronounced Nicole) Yarnall.

“We’re recruiting team members for both the Tinley and Schaumburg stores,” Lin said. “Just visit the stores or apply at the company website.”

Lin said there would be lots of giveaways for the grand opening weekend in particular as well as for the next month. Raffle prizes will include a GoPro Camera, Shoei Helmet and a Cycle Gear shopping spree. 

“We’ll have a lot of swag to give away,” he said.

The Tinley store will be open seven days a week, which Lin said was unusual for motorcycle shops.

“Most cycle shops are closed on Sunday and a lot are also closed on Monday,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being open seven days a week.”

Hours for the Tinley store will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, visit Cycle Gear online or check out Cycle Gear Tinley Park on Facebook.

Stay of execution for Rand Hallmark stores

Closing of the Rand Hallmark stores in Frankfort, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Joliet, Lockport and Oswego has been delayed until the end of the month as owner Gary Watland tries to find buyers for the shops, which had been planning on closing Monday night before hitting the auction block Tuesday.

Charter Fitness opens new facility in New Lenox

Charter Fitness has opened its new larger facility at 1325 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox and closed two locations that were former Cardinal Fitness centers at 2465 E. Joliet Highway and 800 Laraway Road.

The new facility has longer hours, more parking and better fitness equipment including cardio exercisers and an outdoor running track. The new gym is also planning free Wi-Fi and child care.

Hours are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For information, call 815-463-8500 or visit Charter Fitness of New Lenox on Facebook.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also follow business happenings at Comings & Goings.