Large covered bicycle shed opened in former Sears store in Vancouver mall
BC’s largest indoor bike park opened this week in North Vancouver and attracts both advanced and novice bikers.
The North Shore Bike Park at Capilano Mall is located in the former Sears store, which closed in January 2018.
“I’m so used to seeing this place empty,” said Mike Upton, one of the bike park’s founders and general manager.
“It’s really great to actually see people here and enjoy it, have fun.”
And it may indicate a broader trend of malls diversifying from traditional retail to recreational space as several major box offices close across Canada.
North Shore Bike Park, an indoor facility, has opened in North Vancouver. Co-owner Mike Upton says it is “a community center for all things cycling”.
Upton said he and nine other bike-loving North Shore residents came together about two years ago and pooled their resources with a vision to create more than just a bike park.
They want the space to be used as a “community center for all things cycling.”
While customers will need to purchase memberships or day passes to ride, Upton says they plan to hold free programs to help the community learn about cycling and health.
“It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy all things cycling lifestyle all year round,” Upton said at the park’s opening on Tuesday.
He says the grounds are designed to be an accessible and welcoming space for riders of all abilities and styles—from mountain biking to BMX to recreational cycling.
Specifically, Upton says there are plenty of features aimed at novice riders looking to improve their skills.
And the interior space, which measures about 65,000 square feet, according to Upton, is air-conditioned.
Upton says this means it gives riders a space to go not only during the cold off-season, but also during summer heat waves.
“It was nothing but a smile,” Upton said.
From retail to recreation
Amid a trend of closing big box stores in Canada — such as Sears, Nordstrom, Bed Bath & Beyond — mall recreation areas may become more common, says Chris Cheung, a reporter specializing in Metro Vancouver malls for online news outlet The Tyee.
“The retail landscape has completely changed in recent years,” says Cheung.
Cheung says many malls in BC and beyond are adapting to the realities of online shopping by diversifying their offerings.
“I think it’s very creative in what they’ve done,” he said.
“It sounds like a whole North Shore thing to put in a mall.”
