Timbuk2 Comes To Bucktown
By Lisa White in Arts & Entertainment on May 16, 2014 9:05PM
To celebrate their first store in the Midwest, Timbuk2 is not only throwing a party this weekend with some local brews but also partnering up to offer more than just retail options to the local cyclist community.
Head over tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and enjoy beer from Revolution Brewery, tamales from the Tamale Spaceship food truck, limited edition gifts with purchase and $5 Miir stainless steel pint glasses for purchase that benefit Active Transportation Alliance. You'll also be able to check out their new digs, which features a lot more than just their signature bags. Just inside the entrance to the store is a San Francisco-inspired parklet with benches, electric outlets for charging phones, a tire pump, extra tubes, maps and a water fountain for folks to use for free. Parklets are urban spaces turned into green relaxation areas in Timbuk2's hometown, but they've brought the concept inside to make it Chicago winter friendly.
Besides making the store extra community friendly, they are also partnering up with Active Trans to celebrate Bike to Work month during June and will be hosting a variety of events including a Bike From Work Day party June 20. Also in June they are launching their own version of a mini bike share program. The store will have a small selection of bikes available for free to take out for the day. Even better they'll provide a helmet and bike lock for you to use as well. “We’re thrilled to open our first national store outside of the West in Chicago,” said Timbuk2 Brand Director Lizzy Fallows. “As one of the most progressive cities for bike commuters, Chicago is a natural fit for Timbuk2. We’re excited to evolve with city’s bike culture, and serve as a go-to destination for all things cycling, lifestyle and beyond.”
We were able to stop by the new Bucktown location and check it out earlier this week. We've got a few photos of some of the bags available, the parklet area and part of the custom bag building station.
Timbuk2 Chicago is located at 1623 N. Damen Ave. Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.