Fridrich Bicycle in Ohio City closing soon, after 141 years

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Fridrich Bicycle Inc. in Ohio City is closing on Saturday after 141 years in business.

Owner Chuck Fridrich told FOX 8 News that it’s time for him to move on. The business was started by Fridrich’s grandfather and his brother. It then passed on to his dad and then eventually to Fridrich.

It’s always been on the same block of Lorain Avenue, but moved twice before landing at 3800 Lorain Ave in the early 1900s.

It started as a feed business that serviced horses. They continued to help people get around once the invention of the bicycle came around.

They went on to become the biggest Schwinn bike distributer in the Midwest at one point.

“The one thing about our store, we always gave the customer the benefit of the doubt and took care of what little or major problem they would have. I enjoyed my affiliation with the public over the years,” Fridrich said. “Time marches on for all of us. I’m not getting any younger. It was becoming an increasingly difficult business because of the fact that prices had gone up substantially on bikes because of the pandemic.”

On top of the higher costs, Fridrich said they’ve had a hard time finding new employees, and he doesn’t have anyone in his family who lives nearby who could take over the business.

He’s not sure what will ultimately end up replacing his bike shop.

Fridrich added that he’ll miss it, but he’s looking forward to having a little less stress in his life.

“It’s something that over the years, you just take for granted,” he said. “You just come in, put the key in the door every day and just take care of business and do the best you can.”

Fridrich also wants to thank all of the loyal customers over the years. He estimated that hundreds of thousands of customers have entered his family’s business since 1883.

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