Beckmann Architects
2 Prince St. rendering of a proposed restaurant to replace Big Wheel Bikes.
Big Wheel Bikes, located at 2 Prince St. in Old Town Alexandria, could be moving to a new location later this year to make way for a new waterfront taco restaurant, according to the bike shop manager.
The bike shop, in the iconic bright yellow building at the foot of Prince Street, is the subject of a Board of Architectural Review meeting later this month.
Big Wheel Bikes store manager Bennett Moore said Friday the building owner is actively seeking a new location for the bike shop, possibly nearby.
Photo used with permission of Big Wheel Bikes
Big Wheel Bikes, Old Town Alexandria
The owners of the proposed restaurant, according to Moore, are the same folks behind Cooper Mill, which recently opened its doors nearby, at 10 Duke St. The Cooper Mill restaurant is a team effort with Murray Bonitt, restaurateur Noe Landini and building and real estate executive Larry Nicholson.
The bike shop property owner, 2 Prince LLC, has submitted paperwork to the city to transform the building into a restaurant with a rooftop deck.
The filing includes plans to completely renovate the building with new doors and windows, a rooftop deck and a retractable canopy system. Outdoor, ground floor seating would take up space in the alley between the building and Chadwick's along The Strand.
Big Wheel Bikes has been in business since 1971 and is owned by Eric Westerman, who also owns the Arlington location.
The bike shop sells new and used bikes, performs bicycle service and repairs, and rents bicycles to locals and tourists. The company's other location is at 3119 Langston Blvd. (formerly Lee Highway) in Arlington.
