Eden Bikes Owner Rides Off Into the Sunset
Gearing up for a new chapter in their lives, Eden Bicycles owner Chris Padavana and his family are grateful for the support of the Castro Valley community.
For the last 20 years, Chris Padavana has owned and managed Eden Bicycles and grown the business to become the go-to place to gear up before exploring the streets and hills of Castro Valley and beyond on two wheels.
But last month, he sold the business and is handing over the handlebars to a new owner. Starting next week, he says he'll prepare for the next chapter in his life and move the family to Nevada City, California, which is 155 miles northeast of Castro Valley, about an hour's drive from Sacramento.
"COVID was good for our business because of the demand for bikes and outdoor activities," Padavana told the Forum. "Our volume grew, but it was taxing. I'm so grateful to the community for supporting us all these years. I'm looking forward to getting out and riding more myself… April 8 will be our last day as Eden Bicycles. After that, it will become Trek of Castro Valley."
Late last year, Padavana was approached by Trek Bicycles, a Fortune 500 company with 400 privately owned stores and 1,700 retailers in the US. The company was impressed with the business opportunity in Castro Valley, and Padavana felt Trek was the best choice to protect his investment in the community.
"It's hard enough to make your own decision in life, but when it is a decision that impacts my staff, it weighs heavy on me, and I wanted to make sure they would be OK," Padavana said.
In addition to better salaries and benefits, the staff staying in Castro Valley can move around in the company. The new store will continue to offer all the services that Eden Bicycles currently offers, except for honoring non-Trek bike warranties.
Padavana said Trek was also very interested in maintaining the store's interaction with the community. This includes supporting AIDS/LifeCycle Rides, the community bicycle coalition Bike East Bay, and the Cinderella Classic, a group of about 60 women of all ages who ride through the Tri-Valley.
"We passed along our contacts and information about all the activities we participate in the community to Trek, and they said they wanted that as well. They want to be in the community," Padavana said.
Padavana started working in the store when he was 17 and then off and on until he was about 30. He bought the business in 2002 with a $20,000 loan from a friend. The shop moved to its current location in 2007 after they had outgrown the space now occupied by Aran's Art Studio. Recently, Eden Bicycles expanded its floor space next to the 88 Bao Bao restaurant.
Over the next two decades, Padavana and Eden Bikes taught countless numbers of kids and adults how to ride. He says the highlights of his experience were selling three bikes to comedian Robin Williams and an actor from the Fast and Furious cast. But Padavana says he considers the most fulfilling part of his job is to get people excited about bicycles.
"Just the other day, a guy came in and told us that he grew up coming to this store, and now he's bringing his kid in to get a bike. I love seeing the new generations coming through the store," Padavana said.
And that passion for new bike riders doesn't seem to be waning anytime soon. Electric bikes and commuter bikes continue to fly off the shelves alongside traditional mountain bikes and racers, Padavana said.
"I love watching people get excited about bikes as much as I do," Padavana said. "I love sharing that experience of a new bike and getting out in your area that you didn't recognize before because you are going at a slower pace than you can in your car."