We recently connected with Jessie & Gary Menard and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessie & Gary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission is helping those who are less fortunate. When i was growing up, the Salvation Army helped my family in times of need and around the holidays. My two little brothers and i would not have had some Thanksgivings or Christmases if it wasn’t for them. Now it’s our turn to “pay it forward” when ever we can. We are a very small mom & pop bicycle repair shop. We’ve been in the bicycle business for over 35 years. We truly are most proud of the fact that we are able to help others in so many ways. Whether it’s giving a bicycle to someone who needs it for transportation, giving away free tubes, free tires or other free bicycle items. We are also proud of the great customer service we give to everyone, treating them like we would like to be treated. We believe it’s a wonderful & caring concept & great way to run our business. It wasn’t easy to start our small business and hard to stay open during some tough times. We overcame the challenges by never wavering away from what we believe it in. Helping others & being kind to all. We want the world to follow in our footsteps & be KIND to others. Especially those who are less fortunate.

Jessie & Gary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Since the age of 13, Gary always wanted to own a bike shop and help others in what ever way he could. He went to bike repair school in the 80’s and worked in two shops to further his knowledge and skills as a bike mechanic. We sell bike related items and fix all types and ages of bicycles. What sets us apart from others in the same industry is that we help those less fortunate. That is what we are most proud of. We set aside, tubes, tires etc. and give them to those who can’t afford it. We donate adult & children’s bicycles to the Salvation Army thru out the year and also donate bikes & parts to Mission Crossroads in Yuma. We donate backpacks & socks to the organization Hard Hitters/Sox2Serve, as well. Both organizations also help the homeless. We always treat customers the way we would like to be treated and to us, that’s a great concept to have.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Gary, my husband and business partner, and i met in 1984, in CT, where we worked together for a grocery store chain in their main office. After some time, he left there to work at his first bike shop. He started as a sales person, was promoted to mechanic and then he became the store manager. That’s when he decided to eventually own his own. We married in 1992, moved to AZ where he got a job as a bike mechanic at a local shop. He worked there for 3 years then, we opened our own. We owned that one for 11 years, sold it and tried other types of businesses. After a while we decided that we missed the bicycle industry. At that time we started a mobile bike rental service. We did that for quite a few years and then had a bicycle touring company for a few years. In 2015/16 we purchased Pima Street Bicycle from a couple friends of ours. We increased sales and service tremendously. Once Gary proved to customers that he was a very skilled mechanic, it brought us a lot of business. Because he works on all types and ages of bicycles. The rest is history. We would like people to know that if you have a dream, follow it. You will always be glad you did. :)

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Social media like Facebook & Website helps but word of mouth is always the best form of advertisement. The fact that we donate to various organizations that help those who are less fortunate, also brings us new clients. We have been awarded AZ Daily Star’s Reader’s Choice Award, every year since it started in 2015. We achieved this when customer’s voted for our shop. Also, many of our clients love the fact that we help those less fortunate because they can relate to being helped in their past as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pimastreetbicycle.com
• Facebook: pima street bicycle
• Yelp: pima street bicycle (we have many 5 star reviews)