Long established bike store, Duke's Cycle, burned down early this morning along with a number of other businesses and homes near Queen West and Bathurst. The massive 6-alarm blaze seems to have made quick work of the building. The Star article mentions that residents are being evacuated and that no injuries have been reported.
For the interests of this blog, we'd be interested in knowing what will happen to Duke's - rebuild, retire, relocate?
Comments
Aidan
Duke's, not Urbane
Wed, 02/20/2008 - 14:07I truly feel sorry for all of the business owners and residents, but if it were Urbane or Curbside it would affect me more personally. I'd never ride overpriced aluminum and carbon.
Anonymous (not verified)
over-priced? dumbass...
Thu, 02/21/2008 - 22:20over-priced? dumbass...
Aidan
over-priced? dumbass...
Fri, 02/22/2008 - 12:25That's an opinion: deal. Who are you, 'Anonymous', to make such a remark anyway? Coward.
Sara Jameson (not verified)
Really? Name calling and
Sat, 02/23/2008 - 08:43Really? Name calling and complaining about pricing is what you want to do on this site right now. Why bother even making this about the fire at all?
Duke's was, is and always will be a legend in Toronto's cycling community. It is a loss that has been devastating to the Duke's family, friends and staff (past and present).
I worked there for 5 years. Both my sisters have worked there. I met my husband working there. Most of my friends are out of a job and in a complete state of shock. For us, we have lost a member of the family. We have mourned and feel an overwhelming sense of grief, confusion and shock.
Last night a number of us met up and held a memorial in honour of this incredible institution of the Queen West spirit. We visited the site, cried, told stories, and held up our glasses to the Duke's family and all they have provided to us over the years.
We will rebuild and support Gary throughout the process, no questions asked. Loyalty and support are what are needed now. Not some bullshit about Urbane vs. Dukes. Steel frames vs. aluminum. Or who calls who what.
I mean seriously. With a website named "I Bike TO" you certainly don't seem to excemplify the true nature of what it means to be a cyclist. If these are the attitudes and comments you feel are warranted at a time like this, I have to simply look away and hope there is a pinch flat on a rainy day in your future.
darren
Support
Sat, 02/23/2008 - 09:36Sara, Thanks for writing that. I assure you that the people who run the I Bike TO website feel nothing but sympathy for the Duke family and the employees of the company. We look forward to seeing the store reopen.
This is an open forum so sometimes people say things that don't reflect our opinions. Aidan's comment was his own. We did not want to start any kind of debate about this.
Dukes has been a part of Toronto, helping cyclists ride their bikes, for nearly a century. This is an impressive contribution to the city. The success and longevity of their business speaks volumes. Thanks to the Duke family for choosing to take care of cyclists.
-dj
Derek Koops (not verified)
Silos of Cyclists
Sat, 02/23/2008 - 10:18The comments about Urbane vs. Dukes and carbon frames vs. aluminum frames exemplify a major weakness that we have as a cycling interest group. We don't work together for the good of cycling. If competitive cyclists were to support utilitarian cycling initiatives and vice versa we would find that we would have more clout to change things for the better of all cyclists rather than to only support initiatives that are directly related to the facets of cycling that we personnally participate in.
david (not verified)
Rebuild or relocate
Wed, 02/20/2008 - 15:03I would expect them to rebuild or relocate, as I understand it, many members of the family are still involved in the business.
In addition to "top of the line" (i.e. expensive) bikes, they used to sell used bikes as well, at what I thought were good prices - good enough for me to have bought one in '90 and one again in '96. They were sold to me tuned up, and ready to ride.
Aidan
steel
Wed, 02/20/2008 - 15:09Good service, but at a price. Heaven forbid they'd had many steel frames in that place (they didn't) they'd possibly still be rideable!
tino
Photo from the aftermath
Wed, 02/20/2008 - 17:31I went down to have a look today around 1pm. The photos speak for themselves. I hope Dukes can recover.
Aidan
a business
Sat, 02/23/2008 - 18:33Duke's was a business. It was a business selling more high-end bikes than lower-end bikes, which is a good business model after all. That's why there are so many bike shops like that. Urbane has a very different business model, and that's why it is one of my favourite shops. That said, I'd rather see neither burn down.
I don't think it does good to romanticize a bike shop, either because of its age, or because of its demise. I would guess that the people who lived in those buildings have a less secure place in our society and will have lost a great deal more. I'd also guess that Duke's employees stand to lose a lot more than its owners. But hey, if the media doesn't give thought to those issues, and wants only to focus on the loss of a business, who am I to think that human beings are more important entities than businesses?
Sara Jameson (not verified)
Aiden, you just don't get
Sun, 02/24/2008 - 08:53Aiden, you just don't get this do you? The loss of Duke's was not just the loss of a business. For many of us, it was a home away from home. It is not about losing jobs, losing a business. Randal Duke lived above the store with his wife for years. Many people above the stores did not have, or weren't able to get insurance. They have lost everything.
Gary Duke has inspired his employees. He was always tough, but there was a great sense of leadership and loyalty within him. Which is why all of us are rallying around him now.
Aiden, if you don't get this, then you never will. It is of no use trying to explain it to you,
To the others who has shown and expressed support, thank you. There is a fundraising effort going on for all of those that lived in the buildings. Clothing, housewares and money are being raised to help all those involved get back on their feet. If you contact the Salvation Army, they will have full details available on how to donate.
Claus Nader (not verified)
Aiden, I have to second
Thu, 03/06/2008 - 10:36Aiden, I have to second Sarah here: you simply don't know what you are talking about. You are making comments about a store about which you seem to know very little. Yes, we carry bikes that retail for $7000.00, but for every bike we sell in that price range we sell about 25 Kona Dews for 399.99 or Kona Smokes for 369.99 (my learned guess is that about 50 percent of the bikes we sell are under $500.00). Now if you call that overpriced then you better buy your bike at Canadian Tire and pay for the consequences. Rest assured we are all very much aware of the fact that about 60 people became homeless through the fire and many if not all them were not insured. As a matter of fact one of our co-workers and his wife are in exact that situation. On one hand you are pretending to be the advocate for social justice and on the other hand you prefer Duke's to have burned down rather than Urbane Cycle. Yeah, that sounds like a sound mindset to me.