Wheel House bar and café opens on 2nd Avenue

On Sept. 17, as Niwot finally enjoyed the cooler temperatures of a late summer afternoon, the doors opened at The Wheel House bar and café at 101 2 nd Ave in Niwot. The new gathering spot is an extension of Wheel Works bicycle shop, founded three years ago across the street.

"Business in our old location did really well, and we made the decision late last year to move across the street," Eric Bergeson, who co-owns the Wheel House with his wife Tammy, said. "We actually started the move in February." That move brought them from their 1500 square-foot former location at 190 2nd Ave. to the 6,000 square-foot space that previously housed Powder Keg Brewing.

Bergeson 's opening of the larger shop and bar/café addition is a logical extension of his own enthusiasm for cycling. He said that he's loved the sport since he was young, and rides as much as he can. When pressed to describe it further, he said, "Sure, it's a cliché, but I love the freedom and feeling you get from cycling. You can go long distances under your own power."

Interesting visual elements add to the atmosphere of the space. While you might not be surprised to see bikes that hang from the ceiling, you'll also see bar stools that use struts as their base and remind guests of cycling mechanics. On opening day, a Tour de France replay was showing on a screen in the background. Next to it was a "drink for a friend" blackboard.

Customers were excited that the new gathering spot had put out its welcome mat. Laura Graziano, who lives in Louisville but works in Niwot said, "I liked it back when it was Powder Keg, and I love the vibe in here now. I think it's beautiful." Graziano was talking to two other customers, who had come to congratulate Bergson and relax.

In speaking about the opening for The Wheel House, Bergeson wanted to talk about the importance of the other primary contributors to the business. Along with appreciation for his wife, he talked about the contribution of partner and master bike mechanic Fernando Tapia, Marketing and Bar Manager Kendal Lew, and apprentice mechanic Ben Jones. "Our move wouldn't have gone as well without them," he said.

While the shift in spaces went smoothly in terms of setting up a new and extended physical location, the change and expansion wasn't without its challenges, some related to the fact that just weeks after starting the move, pandemic-related shutdowns began. These shutdowns affected county offices responsible for business permitting processes, and permitting went more slowly. Opening the new space took longer than expected, but ultimately things worked out.

While Bergeson was working on opening The Wheel House, he had to contend with another impact from the pandemic: an increase in business at the bike shop. "The whole bike industry has just been slammed since Covid-19. It's one of the few things people can do, and we've seen a lot of people return to cycling that haven't been cycling in some time." he said. That trend resulted in a positive impact on his revenue. "The number of bikes we sold between March and now is beyond twice what we'd done the prior year across the street."

Bergeson said that since the move, Wheel Works can handle and store twice the number of bikes they could in the old space. However, he's excited to be offering a bar and café for the community. From a business perspective, it adds a revenue stream during the winter months when cycling isn't happening. It also gives people a new place to gather. "I'm here largely for the community, trying to bring people together," said Bergson.

Ultimately, becoming a community gathering spot means more than the sum of square footage, interesting furniture, and drinks. It means that The Wheel House could become a space for people to gather for rides, listen to music, and enjoy traditional bar activities like trivia night. Upon request, Bergeson is also open to hosting rider information classes to build skills or develop technical knowledge. Bergeson admits that while it may be too late in the 2020 cycling season to host all of those types of events immediately, it's on his mind for the future.

In terms of menu offerings, The Wheel House carries a full-service offering craft beer, wine, cocktails, hard seltzer, and cider. Non-drinkers can enjoy nitro cold brew coffee on tap, espresso drink options, and craft root beer from Tommyknockers. Opening day selections included brews by beer makers Crooked Stave, Bootstrap, Bells and Grimm Brothers.

Though there isn't a full kitchen, food options are available. Customers can order five varieties of Proto's Pizza and a charcuterie board that's made with help from Longmont Cheese Importers, Niwot Market and Meadow Lake Honey.

The space, along with the bike shop, will also support community cycling charities. Bergson talked about the importance of connecting with anyone in the biking community, particularly youth, and his past support for the Alexander Dawson School cyclocross program. He's open to suggestions for other charities to support.

In the end, though, as with many businesses, The Wheel House is about people. "It's about the cycling community, but also, it's about Niwot," says Bergeson.