7200 Block of Wisconsin Ave in Bethesda, Maryland
images are not mine
Bethesda in a different time
they ended up raising and moving the Community Hardware Store
Georgetowner Dot Com article on Big Wheel Bikes in Georgetown
Big Wheel Bikes... over 50 Years in the Bike Business in Washington DC
the history is a unique one
as this is a "mom and pop" run in an old school fashion
this is not a Performance Bike Shop
no... this is not a new fangled Trek Store
this is a classic mom and pop...
Mike Sendar being the Pop!
Michael Sendar is getting older
we all grow older
it is a reality
we may complain about getting older, while really, we should all be thankful for getting to grow older
not everyone lives to grow old
Big Wheel Bikes is a shop with a little more personality than some other shops
home of the "Big Wheel Deal"
there may be a Super Sale
or a sign not unlike that old electronics store
"Going Out for Business"
I served some time at Big Wheel... I have my memories and my stories
maybe there is a documentary in there somewhere
as many of the employees are as colorful as the owner
and yes...
Mike Sendar is a colorful character
Mike Sendar is a bit of a dichotomy
Mike Sendar has a gift for remembering people and their names
Mike also has an ability to connect with people
unfortunately... this is a sales technique
how Sendar treats his employees is different
underpaid... over worked...
failure to pay overtime...
often refusing to pay commissions...
taking out taxes and not sending the money to Uncle Same...
it is the Big Wheel Way
and then... Sendar is a less than nurturing boss
his style is a little old school
the question is...
What is the future of Big Wheel Bikes?
Big Wheel Closed its small and awkwardly located Potomac Store a few years ago...
but what about the remaining 4 Stores?
Sendar has two young adult children
a son and a daughter
do they have an interest in running the family business?
these shops do possess some opportunity
in several cases Sendar owns the property...
if he does not own the property, Mike acts like he does
as he did with the Georgetown warehouse when the German developers came in and renovated a rat filled alley in Georgetown to become a high end walking mall
the change of then and now is AMAZING!
years ago I worked a few of the shops
at one time I worked at Big Wheel Bikes in Eastern Market
Sendar owned that property... the shop was not bring in the sales like the other locations
so... Sendar sold the building
hmmmm... he sold too soon
Eastern Market an Capital Hill changed greatly since that moment of sales
could be a great place for a shop today... maybe not
Old Town... Georgetown... Spout Run... and Bethesda
4 Big Wheel Locations
What is the future of Big Wheel?
I bet if you make Mike an offer... he will sell...
but be certain... he will work the deal so it plays to his advantage
Mike Sendar's business strategy is a tad off from "the customer is always right"
Sendar is always right... his methods are his own... his successes are his own...
as a cyclist... I feel his shops could be run differently
as a consumer... I feel his shops could be run differently
as a former employee... you get the point
These are some historic photos of Big Wheel Bikes when the Bethesda Location was on Wisconsin Avenue rather than Arlington Blvd.
Big Wheel on the Gwadzilla Page
Big Wheel Bikes on the Gwadzilla Page
slight amendment
Michael Sendar passed away a few days after I posted this
Peace to Michael Sendar
Love to all that knew Michael Sendar
thoughts to all of those in the Big Wheel Family
